It appeared that there were still some good people in Marn, or if you looked at it from Manuel's point of view, still some gullible people in Marn. While her apparent reluctance to rat him out was reassuring, the fact that she had taken the key with her was very troubling. Still though he did intend to get out of the house, preferably without the assistance of Marn's "fine protectors."
A survey of the room revealed one last door; not promising enough to be another exit -she would have locked that if it was he supposed- but still worth a try. Quietly he crept over to it, opening it silently -save for a low creak- and shutting it carefully. Even as he entered he heard Renee fawning over Quirke, but also something that scared him very much. It seemed that Karris was about, -why guards could never travel alone never ceased to annoy the snake- which meant that getting outside was of greater importance now.
But Manuel was deviating, thinking about what had already happened while he should have been looking for a way out. After all he had stopped bleeding a while ago so he had no reason to stick around any more. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he glanced round the room for something, anything that could help him. He saw quite a few items; carpets, lamps, some boxes, a stray bishan. But nothing that could really get him out. Then, he saw it.
At the other end of the small storeroom was a vent. it was big for Manuel to get through, but it would be a very tight fit, even for someone as slim as he was. At least while he was human. Reaching down he pulled at the vent, and lo and behold it was loose. He slid it out easily and squeezed in feet first, before pulling it back into place. To someone on the outside, it would look like nothing had been disturbed.
Now he could have just stayed right where he was and waited it all out, but that was simply not his way. So Manuel decided to see where this vent led to exactly. However making progress in his human form would have been too stressful, so he shifted.
The snake soon emerged and it was ready to explore, gripping the small bed sheet in it's mouth -he had learnt from his mistake at the market- it slithered along with the sheet trailing behind it. Soon our intrepid explorer hit another obstacle, it was another vent. He dropped the sheet and flickered his tongue to taste the air, and he tasted freedom. The vent led outside.
The snake changed to a boy and the boy pushed at the vent, it shifted outwards and started to fall. But his hand flashed out and caught it, carefully lowering what would have revealed him quietly to the ground. Next was the boy, his sheet abandoned in the vent he wiggled out -rather ungraciously- and dropped lightly to the ground, before he slipped the vent back in place.
Manuel stood now in darkness, his nudity covered by the night. From what he could see, it seemed that he had exited exactly opposite from where he entered in the first place, and at a particularly concealed spot to boot. He could see several alleys leading into the night from where he stood.
Now a more honourable man might have been inclined to stick around, perhaps help Renee fix the window after the guards had departed. But Manuel was not bound by such flimsy morals, and common sense told him that more guards might be on the way. So hidden in his dark corner he opted to change one more time into a snake, and slithered towards an alley that light did not reach.
The snake glided away into the night, there had been far too much excitement for him in one night to last him awhile. And frankly, the guards and Renee could kiss his scaly ass.
As for Brokk, she would be seeing more of him later. She could count on that.
A Marnian Welcome
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Renee Raialagos
- Citizen
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:45 pm
- Name: Renee Raialagos
- Race: Human-Elf Halfbreed
Re: A Marnian Welcome
Oh noes! Karris was already on his way deeper into the shop even as he spoke, and he had sounded so totally sure that the one who had broken into the shop was still there that Renee couldn't help wondering if he had seen something. Still leaning on the now distracted constable Quirke she tried to think of some way to make his colleague stop being so damned dutiful and efficient.
She had started to form the opinion that though Quirke wasn't stupid, the other man seemed definitely smarter than average. She knew Karris was the leader of the small guard patrol, the one with the higher rank. This had been clear already when she'd seen the guards in action in the street encounter earlier same evening. Karris was the one who was relatively more difficult to deal with, and she had no idea whatsoever for how to do it.
Helplessly she watched the bulky, muscular, street monster in plate make it's way towards a beautiful laquered screen at the far wall. Heavy step by heavy step, Karris advanced on his target ... and as Renee gazed at the screen it seemed to wobble slightly, like the sound of those determined steps had made the floor shake. Or as if they had made somebody shake behind the screen, was the next thought that crossed her mind. It felt like she was thinking painfully slowly. If they found the weird and mostly naked boy with the skin disease there behind the screen, anything could happen; it was actually hard to even guess at what.
She needed to find words to answer constable Karris reassuring words, but she found none.
That boy, she though. If they found that boy behind the screen, she wouldn't have a choice anymore. She would simply have to scream, and hope that would make it seem like she hadn't seen him before, and was shocked to discover that the burglar was still there and she had unwittingly been all alone with him. That way she wouldn't need to explain anything at all. The interrogation she hadn't had time to do would surely be carried out by constables Karris and Quirke instead. The boy would get to explain as best he could; but it was after all his fault that this was happening. Perhaps she could make the constables spare him so he would be able to pay his debt? She hoped so. Money was money, also to guards. She would add the bribes to the debt he had to pay.
Ren Brokk ... Brokk was something totally else and Renee wasn't sure of how to act if the saleswoman would be outed somewhere in the shop. She would need to think of something. But again, her thoughts seemed to move slowly as frozen syrup.
Karris would soon be at the screen and she felt she ought to do something. As she didn't have any other immediate ideas, and the scream had been on the top of her mind, she simply screamed in advance, expecting to see the weird naked boy revealed any second now.
She had started to form the opinion that though Quirke wasn't stupid, the other man seemed definitely smarter than average. She knew Karris was the leader of the small guard patrol, the one with the higher rank. This had been clear already when she'd seen the guards in action in the street encounter earlier same evening. Karris was the one who was relatively more difficult to deal with, and she had no idea whatsoever for how to do it.
Helplessly she watched the bulky, muscular, street monster in plate make it's way towards a beautiful laquered screen at the far wall. Heavy step by heavy step, Karris advanced on his target ... and as Renee gazed at the screen it seemed to wobble slightly, like the sound of those determined steps had made the floor shake. Or as if they had made somebody shake behind the screen, was the next thought that crossed her mind. It felt like she was thinking painfully slowly. If they found the weird and mostly naked boy with the skin disease there behind the screen, anything could happen; it was actually hard to even guess at what.
She needed to find words to answer constable Karris reassuring words, but she found none.
That boy, she though. If they found that boy behind the screen, she wouldn't have a choice anymore. She would simply have to scream, and hope that would make it seem like she hadn't seen him before, and was shocked to discover that the burglar was still there and she had unwittingly been all alone with him. That way she wouldn't need to explain anything at all. The interrogation she hadn't had time to do would surely be carried out by constables Karris and Quirke instead. The boy would get to explain as best he could; but it was after all his fault that this was happening. Perhaps she could make the constables spare him so he would be able to pay his debt? She hoped so. Money was money, also to guards. She would add the bribes to the debt he had to pay.
Ren Brokk ... Brokk was something totally else and Renee wasn't sure of how to act if the saleswoman would be outed somewhere in the shop. She would need to think of something. But again, her thoughts seemed to move slowly as frozen syrup.
Karris would soon be at the screen and she felt she ought to do something. As she didn't have any other immediate ideas, and the scream had been on the top of her mind, she simply screamed in advance, expecting to see the weird naked boy revealed any second now.
Re: A Marnian Welcome
It would be an understatement to say that things were not going to plan, Ren thought, as heavy, steel shod steps crossed the room. There were a number of choice expletives she could have used right at that moment, but she was too preoccupied with the incessant, hellish itching, like ants crawling all over her skin, to consider them. It was relentless. They were relentless. Changers, couldn't a woman make a living any more in this city? Why was everyone out to make things difficult? It wasn't as though any of this was illegal! Technically.
The ceiling loomed closer and closer, and the voices seemed to gain edges to them that they hadn't had before, but she could barely concentrate on them. She could barely think over the bloody itching and the urge to squirm, but she had to focus: the steps were drawing nearer and she had to come up with something. Run and she'd look guilty. Do nothing and she'd look guilty. Guards liked to blame crimes on people, after all, and since Quirke was attached to Renee at the hip and she was the only other person forthcoming, she'd look like a handy suspect to get the poor lads in out of the cold for the night. She couldn't stay in a cell, damn it, not like this! All those walls and the bars, sitting there between her and freedom. She shivered at the thought and the screen moved again, a shadow falling across it.
She was out of time and she was out of ideas. Well, she was out of clever ideas, at any rate. The only options left to her were to flee or to tough it out. Hang on, she thought, grasping at the idea like a drowning man would a lifeline. She didn't have to tough it out; she had to wuss it out. It ran contrary to everything she knew and accepted as a strong, independent woman who wanted to make her own way in the world, but damn them all, needs must out in the end. A mailed, gauntlet landed on the screen, and she felt her spine twitch again, right at the moment a woman's scream rang out. That didn't distract Karris, and the screen was pulled away unceremoniously, while Ren obeyed every instinct she had and freaked out, loudly, violently and visibly.
"No! Please! Don't let 'im 'urt me, sah! Don't, please! 'E said 'E'd kill me! I didn't..."
On and on and on it went, growing louder and more explicit with each syllable to the point where even Karris had to take a step back. Once unleashed, there was no putting her panic back in the bottle, and she screamed and thrashed and made a dash for the window, trailing away to gibbering alterations between thanking them for saving her and begging them not to let 'him' get her again, as Karris caught her. She could probably have done better, she supposed, but she had other things than mummery on her mind right at that moment, namely a burning need to get out from under the roof and into the open air.
The ceiling loomed closer and closer, and the voices seemed to gain edges to them that they hadn't had before, but she could barely concentrate on them. She could barely think over the bloody itching and the urge to squirm, but she had to focus: the steps were drawing nearer and she had to come up with something. Run and she'd look guilty. Do nothing and she'd look guilty. Guards liked to blame crimes on people, after all, and since Quirke was attached to Renee at the hip and she was the only other person forthcoming, she'd look like a handy suspect to get the poor lads in out of the cold for the night. She couldn't stay in a cell, damn it, not like this! All those walls and the bars, sitting there between her and freedom. She shivered at the thought and the screen moved again, a shadow falling across it.
She was out of time and she was out of ideas. Well, she was out of clever ideas, at any rate. The only options left to her were to flee or to tough it out. Hang on, she thought, grasping at the idea like a drowning man would a lifeline. She didn't have to tough it out; she had to wuss it out. It ran contrary to everything she knew and accepted as a strong, independent woman who wanted to make her own way in the world, but damn them all, needs must out in the end. A mailed, gauntlet landed on the screen, and she felt her spine twitch again, right at the moment a woman's scream rang out. That didn't distract Karris, and the screen was pulled away unceremoniously, while Ren obeyed every instinct she had and freaked out, loudly, violently and visibly.
"No! Please! Don't let 'im 'urt me, sah! Don't, please! 'E said 'E'd kill me! I didn't..."
On and on and on it went, growing louder and more explicit with each syllable to the point where even Karris had to take a step back. Once unleashed, there was no putting her panic back in the bottle, and she screamed and thrashed and made a dash for the window, trailing away to gibbering alterations between thanking them for saving her and begging them not to let 'him' get her again, as Karris caught her. She could probably have done better, she supposed, but she had other things than mummery on her mind right at that moment, namely a burning need to get out from under the roof and into the open air.
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Manuel
- Citizen
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2015 1:39 pm
- Name: Manuel Aknin
- Race: Black Mamba Shifter
Re: A Marnian Welcome
The purity that was silence was broken that night, but the gibbering noises that emerged from Brokk's mouth and Quirke could only watch with a confused stare at her babbling, his grip tightening on Renee in an effort to shield her. The usually composed saleswoman reduced to a fleeing heap as she scrambled for a window, as Karris held her back almost effortlessly, his huge frame holding her back.
Her shrieks echoed through the small shop and out of the broken window, amplified in the night. To an outside listener it would appear that Brokk was being killed, or at the very least assaulted, and there were a few observers to the spectacle that was taking place. Standing near the house were two guards, subordinates brought along by Karris in case the disturbance turned ugly, guard who now exchanged uneasy looks at the noise. The younger of them was jumpier, clutching his sword in a jittery armoured hand and making minuscule movements towards the house.
"Hey!" A shout from his partner startled him into dropping his weapon, and it clanged nosily on the stone floor, echoing even as he rushed to retrieve it. The former scoffed at him, not with malice but with the kind of friendly jeering that came from history together. "Don't be such a bleeding coward Gramin, unless you want it in your report" Gramin face turned a pinkish hue as he hurriedly sheathed his sword, even as he mumbled back a hurried reply on where he could stick his report.
But the duo was not as alone as they thought. Deep in a dark alley, hidden in the nook of an old building was a spectator,a mamba that occasionally tasted the air as he watched. And it was under his watchful gaze that the two guards moved towards Renee's house, weapons at the ready.
Her shrieks echoed through the small shop and out of the broken window, amplified in the night. To an outside listener it would appear that Brokk was being killed, or at the very least assaulted, and there were a few observers to the spectacle that was taking place. Standing near the house were two guards, subordinates brought along by Karris in case the disturbance turned ugly, guard who now exchanged uneasy looks at the noise. The younger of them was jumpier, clutching his sword in a jittery armoured hand and making minuscule movements towards the house.
"Hey!" A shout from his partner startled him into dropping his weapon, and it clanged nosily on the stone floor, echoing even as he rushed to retrieve it. The former scoffed at him, not with malice but with the kind of friendly jeering that came from history together. "Don't be such a bleeding coward Gramin, unless you want it in your report" Gramin face turned a pinkish hue as he hurriedly sheathed his sword, even as he mumbled back a hurried reply on where he could stick his report.
But the duo was not as alone as they thought. Deep in a dark alley, hidden in the nook of an old building was a spectator,a mamba that occasionally tasted the air as he watched. And it was under his watchful gaze that the two guards moved towards Renee's house, weapons at the ready.
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Renee Raialagos
- Citizen
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:45 pm
- Name: Renee Raialagos
- Race: Human-Elf Halfbreed
Re: A Marnian Welcome
It hadn’t been the half-naked boy hiding behind the screen, it had been Brokk.
All Renée could do was watch how the streetseller behaved like a complete madwoman and how Constable Karris showed his worth and competence as city guard and caught her when she tired to get away from the shop.
She felt like she ought to intervene some way and made a movement as if to take a step forward, but was stopped as Constable Quirke promptly pulled her out of the way. It was hard to say if his goal was to protect Renée or if he was just being practical and didn’t want to be in the way for Karris.
When Brokk screamed and made a dash for the broken window Renee closed her eyes. It was beyond her to understand how the saleswoman could behave this crazy way. When Renee saw her potential new business partner stand there, detained by Karris, while Quirke kept his grip on herself she wasn’t able to not get a most uncomfortable feeling that both she and Brokk had been seized by the city guard.
She knew one thing. The way Brokk had behaved disqualified her for speaking them out of this. Renee wasn’t going to let Brokk do the speaking if she could prevent it. She would at least not leave it to the streetseller to speak first and maybe make things even worse. Oh no ... Renee was going to do the speaking here and there was only one thing to do, sadly rash and expensive as it would be. She must blame the boy if it became necessary. This would mean she could kiss the payment for the window goodbye but so be it. All this trouble was his fault after all. He had jumped in through her window and started this disaster. But she didn’t know yet if it had to come to that, and she hoped it could be avoided. The best would be if they could leave the shop before the guards found the lad so she wouldn’t need to explain the suspect presence of a nearly naked boy at all.
“She has been like this even since I found her ” Renée said to Karris before Brokk had time to babble more. “I don’t know what has happened to this poor innocent woman. I found her on the street outside. She was so utterly terrified and totally confused that I felt I had to take care of her. I’m a voluntary at the hospital you see, and I think she is in a state of shock.”
She made a pause and it looked like Karris was about to say something, but Renee hurried up and continued, making up an explanation to the situation as she went. “I’m a hospital voluntary so it was my duty to do something. I decided to bring her with me in. I thought she would calm down and be able to tell me something. But as soon as I had opened the door she scurried off to hide behind the screen. I have tried to make her come out of there, but it has been impossible. I hoped she would be able to tell me if she had witnessed who broke into my shop, but alas it has been totally impossible to speak with her.”
She was feeling like she was babbling more than Brokk, but speak was all she could do. “I don’t think you will get a single useful word out of her when she is in this state” she said. “She is already so crazy of fear that it’s not possible to reach her. I think the best would be that I take her with me home and give her some hot tea and food. It might also help to change environment. Perhaps it will become possible to speak with her after a while. We'll need to be gentle and loving and make her feel safe and cared for. That can be important too, for getting her out of the mindless state she is in.”
She tried to sound professional and reminded them once again about her supposed insight in basic care of shocked people, due to being a volunteer at Marn’s hospital. If the guards would pay any heed to this remained to be seen.
All Renée could do was watch how the streetseller behaved like a complete madwoman and how Constable Karris showed his worth and competence as city guard and caught her when she tired to get away from the shop.
She felt like she ought to intervene some way and made a movement as if to take a step forward, but was stopped as Constable Quirke promptly pulled her out of the way. It was hard to say if his goal was to protect Renée or if he was just being practical and didn’t want to be in the way for Karris.
When Brokk screamed and made a dash for the broken window Renee closed her eyes. It was beyond her to understand how the saleswoman could behave this crazy way. When Renee saw her potential new business partner stand there, detained by Karris, while Quirke kept his grip on herself she wasn’t able to not get a most uncomfortable feeling that both she and Brokk had been seized by the city guard.
She knew one thing. The way Brokk had behaved disqualified her for speaking them out of this. Renee wasn’t going to let Brokk do the speaking if she could prevent it. She would at least not leave it to the streetseller to speak first and maybe make things even worse. Oh no ... Renee was going to do the speaking here and there was only one thing to do, sadly rash and expensive as it would be. She must blame the boy if it became necessary. This would mean she could kiss the payment for the window goodbye but so be it. All this trouble was his fault after all. He had jumped in through her window and started this disaster. But she didn’t know yet if it had to come to that, and she hoped it could be avoided. The best would be if they could leave the shop before the guards found the lad so she wouldn’t need to explain the suspect presence of a nearly naked boy at all.
“She has been like this even since I found her ” Renée said to Karris before Brokk had time to babble more. “I don’t know what has happened to this poor innocent woman. I found her on the street outside. She was so utterly terrified and totally confused that I felt I had to take care of her. I’m a voluntary at the hospital you see, and I think she is in a state of shock.”
She made a pause and it looked like Karris was about to say something, but Renee hurried up and continued, making up an explanation to the situation as she went. “I’m a hospital voluntary so it was my duty to do something. I decided to bring her with me in. I thought she would calm down and be able to tell me something. But as soon as I had opened the door she scurried off to hide behind the screen. I have tried to make her come out of there, but it has been impossible. I hoped she would be able to tell me if she had witnessed who broke into my shop, but alas it has been totally impossible to speak with her.”
She was feeling like she was babbling more than Brokk, but speak was all she could do. “I don’t think you will get a single useful word out of her when she is in this state” she said. “She is already so crazy of fear that it’s not possible to reach her. I think the best would be that I take her with me home and give her some hot tea and food. It might also help to change environment. Perhaps it will become possible to speak with her after a while. We'll need to be gentle and loving and make her feel safe and cared for. That can be important too, for getting her out of the mindless state she is in.”
She tried to sound professional and reminded them once again about her supposed insight in basic care of shocked people, due to being a volunteer at Marn’s hospital. If the guards would pay any heed to this remained to be seen.
Re: A Marnian Welcome
Dimly, she was aware of Renee saying something to Karris and Quirke, but enough of her attention was taken by attempting to look panicked without letting that panic overtake her that she had little choice but to let Renee talk her way out of this. She didn't envy her the task, she thought, struggling in Karris' mallet-fisted grip, but she hoped that she had the wherewithal to play along.
There was something of a lull in the speech, as though someone had finished, and there was utter, disbelieving silence from the two Guards. While she never stopped her sobbing attempts to get out, she didn't need to look to know that Karris was thinking so hard she could smell the gears grinding and Quirke was watching Karris. It drew on for a moment longer, and she worried that they had not been swayed, when someone called to them from outside.
"There's something there," yelled an unfamiliar voice, "in the alley! Bring the torch, Den!"
"What is it?!"
Karris sounded very glad of the distraction and gestured for Quirke to go and check. There were further cries from outside, but Quirke seemed reluctant to move. Karris opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the sounds of hoofbeats and running feet. Ren tried not to smile; attention meant stressed guards, stressed guards made snap decisions, and with the prospect of a superior out there, Karris' options were limited.
"What is that? "
"It's gettin' away!"
"Dammit!"
Karris swore, pushing Ren to the ground, where she promptly curled up into a sobbing ball. Signalling for Quirke to follow, he climbed back out through the window with rather more speed and grace than a man his size in plate should have been able to. That just left Quirke, and by Ren's estimation he could either stay here and face the wrath of his superiors or go out, claim heroism and follow up with them later. Either way, it would be fun to watch.
There was something of a lull in the speech, as though someone had finished, and there was utter, disbelieving silence from the two Guards. While she never stopped her sobbing attempts to get out, she didn't need to look to know that Karris was thinking so hard she could smell the gears grinding and Quirke was watching Karris. It drew on for a moment longer, and she worried that they had not been swayed, when someone called to them from outside.
"There's something there," yelled an unfamiliar voice, "in the alley! Bring the torch, Den!"
"What is it?!"
Karris sounded very glad of the distraction and gestured for Quirke to go and check. There were further cries from outside, but Quirke seemed reluctant to move. Karris opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the sounds of hoofbeats and running feet. Ren tried not to smile; attention meant stressed guards, stressed guards made snap decisions, and with the prospect of a superior out there, Karris' options were limited.
"What is that? "
"It's gettin' away!"
"Dammit!"
Karris swore, pushing Ren to the ground, where she promptly curled up into a sobbing ball. Signalling for Quirke to follow, he climbed back out through the window with rather more speed and grace than a man his size in plate should have been able to. That just left Quirke, and by Ren's estimation he could either stay here and face the wrath of his superiors or go out, claim heroism and follow up with them later. Either way, it would be fun to watch.
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Manuel
- Citizen
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2015 1:39 pm
- Name: Manuel Aknin
- Race: Black Mamba Shifter
Re: A Marnian Welcome
From his hiding place the sound of panic reached the mambas ears, as men ran into an alley opposite the one he was nestled in. The clanking of armor reached his ears even from his secure stop, but he could not see what was going on.
Still, Manuel had fled from scenes because of closer and more immediate threats, and he wasn't going to change his ways now, especially with what he assumed were guards about. So he slithered further into the crack with eventually opened into the old house
The building was more maintained than it would have appeared from the outside, although it was still old. It seemed that it had been inhabited or was being inhabited by squatters, clothes strewn across the floor. Changing back into his human form Manuel felt around in the dark room, his hands after some trial and error landing on some pieces of clothing that didn't seem so ragged.
In his hands lay a brown hooded cloak and some greyish trousers. Barely believing his luck Manuel donned the gear, leaving the hood on the cloak down but shielding his chest. He moved towards an exit but then stopped. What if the woman has informed someone of his presence, if so going out would be too risky.
The solution presented itself soon enough. He would simply shift, not fully but enough to change his appearance, while still appearing human. Concentrating he willed his body to change, his facial structure elongating slightly, his hair regressing into his scalp making him bald. For the final touch a layer of skin formed over his eyes, as they took on a milky texture like that of a blind man, but he could see fine. A long stick served as a walking stick.
Set he walked confidently out of the door opposite his entry emerging some distance from all the commotion, the light taps from his stick masked by the overall noise of the night. As he made his way out of the downtown & business district.
He had a hell of a story to tell his family.
Still, Manuel had fled from scenes because of closer and more immediate threats, and he wasn't going to change his ways now, especially with what he assumed were guards about. So he slithered further into the crack with eventually opened into the old house
The building was more maintained than it would have appeared from the outside, although it was still old. It seemed that it had been inhabited or was being inhabited by squatters, clothes strewn across the floor. Changing back into his human form Manuel felt around in the dark room, his hands after some trial and error landing on some pieces of clothing that didn't seem so ragged.
In his hands lay a brown hooded cloak and some greyish trousers. Barely believing his luck Manuel donned the gear, leaving the hood on the cloak down but shielding his chest. He moved towards an exit but then stopped. What if the woman has informed someone of his presence, if so going out would be too risky.
The solution presented itself soon enough. He would simply shift, not fully but enough to change his appearance, while still appearing human. Concentrating he willed his body to change, his facial structure elongating slightly, his hair regressing into his scalp making him bald. For the final touch a layer of skin formed over his eyes, as they took on a milky texture like that of a blind man, but he could see fine. A long stick served as a walking stick.
Set he walked confidently out of the door opposite his entry emerging some distance from all the commotion, the light taps from his stick masked by the overall noise of the night. As he made his way out of the downtown & business district.
He had a hell of a story to tell his family.
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Renee Raialagos
- Citizen
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:45 pm
- Name: Renee Raialagos
- Race: Human-Elf Halfbreed
Re: A Marnian Welcome
Karris had left ... Renee decided to take the opportunity to try to make Quirke let herself and Brokk leave too. She didn't know that the boy had managed to find a way out from the house and hoped to prevent the guards from searching the inner part of the shop. Maybe she would have acted a bit differently if she had known they wouldn't find anybody there ... but as she didn't know she was prepared to go to lengths to avoid trouble.
"Are you just going to stand there ?" she said to Quirke. Her voice went a wee bit jarring. "Don't you care one bit that I have had a burglary here in my shop and now I have this shocked odd woman here who can have seen something that could solve the case? What kind of city guard are you ... and ... I really don't know if it was such a good idea to get engaged to you ! If THIS is how it's going to be when we are married I definitely think it's time to break up! All I have asked is that you escort me and the woman to my home, but no, instead you just stand here and ..."
Quirke straightened himself a bit and stared back at her. "No" he said. "THIS is certainly not how it's going to be once we are married."
Renee stopped her tirade. There had been steel in the man's voice.
Brokk was sobbing on the floor in front of them. Renee had no idea how to proceed now, so she stepped away from the guard fell to her knees beside Brokk in order to take care of the woman, but also in order to get something else to do than continue the interaction with Quirke. "There, there" she said impotently. "Don't worry. You'll be taken care of. We'll go and have a cup of tea at my place and when you have calmed down we can speak about what you have seen. How does that sound?"
She didn't really expect an intelligible answer from Brokk, but she said this nonetheless. And she didn't know if they would be allowed to go anywhere. Perhaps not, as she hadn't succeeded to get anywhere with Quirke the way she had behaved. She wasn't keen on standing up and have to deal with him again. So Renee just stayed where she was, kneeling beside Brokk, and patted the saleswoman on her shaking shoulder while she spoke to her in a voice meant to be reassuring, as well as it was possible to sound reassuring right now. She actually found her own voice a bit weak. She was seriously tempted to follow Brokks example and cry mindlessly at the whole mess they were in.
"Are you just going to stand there ?" she said to Quirke. Her voice went a wee bit jarring. "Don't you care one bit that I have had a burglary here in my shop and now I have this shocked odd woman here who can have seen something that could solve the case? What kind of city guard are you ... and ... I really don't know if it was such a good idea to get engaged to you ! If THIS is how it's going to be when we are married I definitely think it's time to break up! All I have asked is that you escort me and the woman to my home, but no, instead you just stand here and ..."
Quirke straightened himself a bit and stared back at her. "No" he said. "THIS is certainly not how it's going to be once we are married."
Renee stopped her tirade. There had been steel in the man's voice.
Brokk was sobbing on the floor in front of them. Renee had no idea how to proceed now, so she stepped away from the guard fell to her knees beside Brokk in order to take care of the woman, but also in order to get something else to do than continue the interaction with Quirke. "There, there" she said impotently. "Don't worry. You'll be taken care of. We'll go and have a cup of tea at my place and when you have calmed down we can speak about what you have seen. How does that sound?"
She didn't really expect an intelligible answer from Brokk, but she said this nonetheless. And she didn't know if they would be allowed to go anywhere. Perhaps not, as she hadn't succeeded to get anywhere with Quirke the way she had behaved. She wasn't keen on standing up and have to deal with him again. So Renee just stayed where she was, kneeling beside Brokk, and patted the saleswoman on her shaking shoulder while she spoke to her in a voice meant to be reassuring, as well as it was possible to sound reassuring right now. She actually found her own voice a bit weak. She was seriously tempted to follow Brokks example and cry mindlessly at the whole mess they were in.
Re: A Marnian Welcome
Things were definitely taking a turn for the better, she thought, simply nodding in response to Renee's question in between her sobs and panicked motions. Quirke didn't look like he was going to move, but now that there were higher ups there, odds were on his being called to do his job and on their being sent home to await judgement. Still, she couldn't think straight with that damned ceiling overhead, but if they could find an opening, then she was more than willing to let Renee lead her away. Quirke took a step forwards, a measured, manly tread speaking of iron and determination, and a voice like an axe blow cut through the air.
"Constable Quirke! Get out here!"
She swore she saw Quirke's calm crack for a moment, and he snarled, but like the good dog that he was, he turned to respond, moving to the broken window. Ren used the opening to grip Renee's forearm tightly, shooting her as meaningful a look as she could through her panic. She wasn't crazy, she tried to communicate, but this was their only way out of this without going to prison for a while. From outside, the voice of command grew harsher still, and she dared to hope. Quirke said something desultory but affirmative, before all but marching back to where they were, his face like a storm.
"You are to return to your home," he said, with what Ren thought to be considerable restraint, "leave your keys with me, and the Guard will contact you with further queries."
He did not sound pleased about that state of affairs, but Ren was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth again. She had already had too many scares in one night. Still sobbing, she leaned against Renee, waiting to see what the woman would do.
"Constable Quirke! Get out here!"
She swore she saw Quirke's calm crack for a moment, and he snarled, but like the good dog that he was, he turned to respond, moving to the broken window. Ren used the opening to grip Renee's forearm tightly, shooting her as meaningful a look as she could through her panic. She wasn't crazy, she tried to communicate, but this was their only way out of this without going to prison for a while. From outside, the voice of command grew harsher still, and she dared to hope. Quirke said something desultory but affirmative, before all but marching back to where they were, his face like a storm.
"You are to return to your home," he said, with what Ren thought to be considerable restraint, "leave your keys with me, and the Guard will contact you with further queries."
He did not sound pleased about that state of affairs, but Ren was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth again. She had already had too many scares in one night. Still sobbing, she leaned against Renee, waiting to see what the woman would do.
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Renee Raialagos
- Citizen
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:45 pm
- Name: Renee Raialagos
- Race: Human-Elf Halfbreed
Re: A Marnian Welcome
The meaningful look Brokk had shot her had been perfectly sane, but there was also something else. Renee wasn’t sure what to think about it. Had the woman’s whole extreme reaction, the mindless panic and the tears only been playacting? Somehow she doubted it. It had seemed genuine. The saleswoman had acted like she really was out of her mind with fear.
Brokk was leaning on her like she expected Renee to pick her up and carry her out from the shop. Renee got to her feet and pulled the saleswoman with her up, and then she found her shop key and handed it to Quirke. There was not much she could do bar do as she was told and hope for the best. They were at least leaving the shop. She might avoid being forced to explain the presence of the boy ...
Constable Quirke had ordered her to hand over her keys to the shop to him, so that was what she was going to do. As the window had been destroyed and people were already going in and out through it like it was the new door, it felt meaningless to worry about the keys now. She pulled them out of her pocket and handed them to the constable without comments.
It was silent for a moment. Quirke took the keys and looked at her. Renee looked back. She didn’t say it, but she was for sure not going to be the phony fiancée of this man for particularly long time. She was going to get rid of him as soon as she found an opportunity to find out how big a bribe she would need to pay to make him say he’d dumped her. She assumed this was how it would need to be.
The voice of command could be heard again, barking more orders and calling for Quirke again.
The constable seemed to hesitate, torn between the call of duty and the belated insight that his own agenda for social and professional progress in Marn might be in danger.
“Open the door please” Renee said after yet an awkward moment of odd silence. “I don’t think it would work so well to climb out through the window ... ” At this she glanced at Brokk, and then she shook out the long skirt of her mustard yellow dress, which was definitely not a garment made for climbing through windows.
“Well, I ... miss Raialagos ... Renee ... the door ... of course ... “ Quirke spoke slowly, his voice sounding like he was carrying a too full cup of hot coffee up a very steep and narrow stairway. He put the key in the lock and opened the door. It swung out silently on well-oiled hinges and opened toward the night street outside. Renee looked at the dark opening and it struck her that it would maybe not be so easy to obey the constable’s orders and just walk home and wait to be contacted. There was the curfew to consider. And outside the shop there were other guards, not only Karris, but guards of higher rank, that much was obvious.
She stayed where she stood and just looked at the open door.
“But the curfew” she said. “How can I walk home without getting in trouble?”
Brokk was leaning on her like she expected Renee to pick her up and carry her out from the shop. Renee got to her feet and pulled the saleswoman with her up, and then she found her shop key and handed it to Quirke. There was not much she could do bar do as she was told and hope for the best. They were at least leaving the shop. She might avoid being forced to explain the presence of the boy ...
Constable Quirke had ordered her to hand over her keys to the shop to him, so that was what she was going to do. As the window had been destroyed and people were already going in and out through it like it was the new door, it felt meaningless to worry about the keys now. She pulled them out of her pocket and handed them to the constable without comments.
It was silent for a moment. Quirke took the keys and looked at her. Renee looked back. She didn’t say it, but she was for sure not going to be the phony fiancée of this man for particularly long time. She was going to get rid of him as soon as she found an opportunity to find out how big a bribe she would need to pay to make him say he’d dumped her. She assumed this was how it would need to be.
The voice of command could be heard again, barking more orders and calling for Quirke again.
The constable seemed to hesitate, torn between the call of duty and the belated insight that his own agenda for social and professional progress in Marn might be in danger.
“Open the door please” Renee said after yet an awkward moment of odd silence. “I don’t think it would work so well to climb out through the window ... ” At this she glanced at Brokk, and then she shook out the long skirt of her mustard yellow dress, which was definitely not a garment made for climbing through windows.
“Well, I ... miss Raialagos ... Renee ... the door ... of course ... “ Quirke spoke slowly, his voice sounding like he was carrying a too full cup of hot coffee up a very steep and narrow stairway. He put the key in the lock and opened the door. It swung out silently on well-oiled hinges and opened toward the night street outside. Renee looked at the dark opening and it struck her that it would maybe not be so easy to obey the constable’s orders and just walk home and wait to be contacted. There was the curfew to consider. And outside the shop there were other guards, not only Karris, but guards of higher rank, that much was obvious.
She stayed where she stood and just looked at the open door.
“But the curfew” she said. “How can I walk home without getting in trouble?”
Re: A Marnian Welcome
The night air was beckoning to her, streaming in through the windows and beneath the door with promises of a world open and free, just waiting for her to leave these walls behind. She couldn't go though, not yet, and she tried and tried to keep her panic down, but it, true to form, was refusing to cooperate, and she fidgeted and fought Renee every step of the way. The voices continued from outside, and she noted Quirke's growing discomfort, as well as Renee's curious glances. She hoped she'd managed to relay some vestige of sanity in that look, at least enough that she could salvage a business arrangement out of this. She hoped so hard, in fact, that she completely missed Renee's question to Quirke, who was even more of a fish out of water than usual.
"Just...Just go," he said, passing a hand over his eyes, "go by the main roads and you'll not be troubled. All patrols are here for now. Go quickly."
She shivered, trying to look smaller with Renee holding her. The important thing was for them to get outside, and then for them to get far, far away from this mess. Once those two objectives had been accomplished, then they could figure out what to do about this, and what to do with that boy when he showed up again. Even in her panicked state, she wasn't stupid enough to think that he was done with inconveniencing them, and if he'd managed to find her here, then who knew where he'd stop. Briefly, she considered whether telling the Guard was a good option, but she wrote it off just as quickly; they would just get in the way. No, she was going to have to invest in some silverware and keep an eye on her approaches for the foreseeable future. It was the only option, well, the only option sans blood.
The door was opened, and she tugged on Renee's arm as circumspectly as she could in the circumstances. Now was not the time for pushing one's luck, she tried to say, now was the time to cut one's ties and show a clean pair of heels. Quirke would fume and scheme to get ahead, but his hands were tied for the time being, and she began to edge towards the door, tasting the free, mud soaked and smoke ridden air. She had to..no! She could not run. Not til she was out of sight. And she could not scream, not again. Use that tactic too often and it wouldn't wash. Calm and frightened was the way to go, and she played the part as well as she could, fading into Renee's shadow. This close to the door it was easier, as the night air had a calming effect on her, and as soon as they were outside, she had to slow her steps, letting Renee take the lead.
"Don't look back," she whispered, shuddering. "Eyes forward and do not stop until we reach your house."
"Just...Just go," he said, passing a hand over his eyes, "go by the main roads and you'll not be troubled. All patrols are here for now. Go quickly."
She shivered, trying to look smaller with Renee holding her. The important thing was for them to get outside, and then for them to get far, far away from this mess. Once those two objectives had been accomplished, then they could figure out what to do about this, and what to do with that boy when he showed up again. Even in her panicked state, she wasn't stupid enough to think that he was done with inconveniencing them, and if he'd managed to find her here, then who knew where he'd stop. Briefly, she considered whether telling the Guard was a good option, but she wrote it off just as quickly; they would just get in the way. No, she was going to have to invest in some silverware and keep an eye on her approaches for the foreseeable future. It was the only option, well, the only option sans blood.
The door was opened, and she tugged on Renee's arm as circumspectly as she could in the circumstances. Now was not the time for pushing one's luck, she tried to say, now was the time to cut one's ties and show a clean pair of heels. Quirke would fume and scheme to get ahead, but his hands were tied for the time being, and she began to edge towards the door, tasting the free, mud soaked and smoke ridden air. She had to..no! She could not run. Not til she was out of sight. And she could not scream, not again. Use that tactic too often and it wouldn't wash. Calm and frightened was the way to go, and she played the part as well as she could, fading into Renee's shadow. This close to the door it was easier, as the night air had a calming effect on her, and as soon as they were outside, she had to slow her steps, letting Renee take the lead.
"Don't look back," she whispered, shuddering. "Eyes forward and do not stop until we reach your house."
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Renee Raialagos
- Citizen
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:45 pm
- Name: Renee Raialagos
- Race: Human-Elf Halfbreed
Re: A Marnian Welcome
Brokk was fidgeting and Renee had already started to wonder how if the saleswoman was going to have a new breakdown. Every step of the way was a struggle. And Quirke and his behavior didn't make the situation any better.
"Just...Just go," he said, passing a hand over his eyes, "go by the main roads and you'll not be troubled. All patrols are here for now. Go quickly."
"Just go?" said Renee. "Aren't you going to ... escort us to safety?"
The constable was saved from answering by a new order from outside and with a quick nod at them he turned away and went out. Well. So much for the protection of her "future husband". Renee clenched her teeth and started to pull Brokk with her out from the shop. This was easier than she had feared. Brokk actually tugged on her arm and actively moved towards the door.
Soon they were outside and walking along the main road, the night air cold and smelling menacingly of smoke. Brokk seemed to be ready to start to run any moment, Where the saleswoman was headed was unclear, but for a start Renee was content to just get away, so she followed. It actually seemed like Brokk was going to stick with her though, because she slowed her steps a bit and told Renee to not look back, just keep her eyes forward and go home without stopping. It seemed like a good advice. Renee really wanted to go home and hide inside her own little nice house now.
Turning around a corner she speeded up her steps a bit and Brokk didn't seem to mind. They weren't running, oh no, not running, just ...walking very fast, though still trying to look calm. Renee was frightened, and she didn't trust Quirke's words about how safe they were going to be. Would they reach Renees home without anybody yelling behind them to come back, and without being stopped by some other guard patrol? Or would it just be stupid to try to go home? She had no idea what was smartest to do. As a law abiding and well behaved citizen, she felt terribly worried about the curfew. Breaking the law was new to her. Would it help to say they had their orders from Quirke? Renee felt lost. But, luckily, she had Ren Brokk, a woman who seemed to possess some experience of the tougher sides of life on the streets. I felt good to not be all alone. They were in this mess together now, the two of them against the world; this was how it had started to feel.
"Let's go ... somewhere and ... " she managed as they walked really fast around one more corner and entered the residential district. "We can ... have a cup of ... something ... and talk about what to do." She was panting between the words as she spoke. "I don't know if it's best to go home or not."
"Just...Just go," he said, passing a hand over his eyes, "go by the main roads and you'll not be troubled. All patrols are here for now. Go quickly."
"Just go?" said Renee. "Aren't you going to ... escort us to safety?"
The constable was saved from answering by a new order from outside and with a quick nod at them he turned away and went out. Well. So much for the protection of her "future husband". Renee clenched her teeth and started to pull Brokk with her out from the shop. This was easier than she had feared. Brokk actually tugged on her arm and actively moved towards the door.
Soon they were outside and walking along the main road, the night air cold and smelling menacingly of smoke. Brokk seemed to be ready to start to run any moment, Where the saleswoman was headed was unclear, but for a start Renee was content to just get away, so she followed. It actually seemed like Brokk was going to stick with her though, because she slowed her steps a bit and told Renee to not look back, just keep her eyes forward and go home without stopping. It seemed like a good advice. Renee really wanted to go home and hide inside her own little nice house now.
Turning around a corner she speeded up her steps a bit and Brokk didn't seem to mind. They weren't running, oh no, not running, just ...walking very fast, though still trying to look calm. Renee was frightened, and she didn't trust Quirke's words about how safe they were going to be. Would they reach Renees home without anybody yelling behind them to come back, and without being stopped by some other guard patrol? Or would it just be stupid to try to go home? She had no idea what was smartest to do. As a law abiding and well behaved citizen, she felt terribly worried about the curfew. Breaking the law was new to her. Would it help to say they had their orders from Quirke? Renee felt lost. But, luckily, she had Ren Brokk, a woman who seemed to possess some experience of the tougher sides of life on the streets. I felt good to not be all alone. They were in this mess together now, the two of them against the world; this was how it had started to feel.
"Let's go ... somewhere and ... " she managed as they walked really fast around one more corner and entered the residential district. "We can ... have a cup of ... something ... and talk about what to do." She was panting between the words as she spoke. "I don't know if it's best to go home or not."
Re: A Marnian Welcome
"No, not yet," she said, straightening and shaking herself to clear her mind, "take the time to get your head right."
Now free of the stifling confines of that hellish building, she passed a hand through her hair, eyes glittering in the torchlight, and flashed Renee something like her usual, sunshine smile. The wheels were turning again, which was good, though they were turning a little too quickly at the minute, and she had to slow her thoughts down and force them into line. Adrenaline was a wonderful motivator, but it muddled things if one wasn't careful, and they had to be careful in how they spun this. Renee's proclamations to Quirke were bold and calculated, but problematic in the long term if she was not prepared to play the part. As for the rest, thanks to that shifter's thoughtlessness, there was no evidence at all that it was anything other than a break in, and as for cleaning up the glass, well, they could talk around that. Held hostage and whatnot.
"They're working for you here," she said, settling into stride, "you were attacked. Your store was broken into. How DARE they make you feel at fault?"
She noticed that her natural accent was beginning to reassert itself too, as it often did when she was under stress. While her first instinct was to bury it under her street vendor manner, but she reined the impulse in as quickly as it had appeared. No, Renee was an ally and she had to work to keep her as such. Honesty was the only way forward there, or at least the appearance of it. Make her feel like an insider in this little game, be helpful, and that would lay the groundwork for future cooperation. She just had to be patient and hope to Changers that that Shifter stayed away until they could get a handle on things. On that topic, she turned to her companion, keeping pace easily.
"Sorry about my reaction back there," she said, smiling sheepishly, "a building fell on me once and I have not been able to abide the indoors since."
No, now they needed something fun to do to help Renee regain her power and feel balanced, and with the Guard down at this end of town, their path to the Night Market would be quite unobstructed. The residential district was wonderful like that she reflected; the law was for other people to obey, but if you weren't upper crust and you pushed your luck, private law could be far more unforgiving than the Guard could ever dream of being. Clasping Renee's hand tightly, she set off at a run, pulling the other woman along with her, and she darted down side streets and around quiet corners. In spite of the curfew, the night people of the city were well in evidence, drunks, cutpurses and strumpets all going about their merry business, and Ren lead Renee confidently away from any large clusters or likely groups.
"Come on! There is this absolutely wonderful place I know where we can drain a glass or two."
Javier's was a more than tolerable little gin mill, if one could find it, though the establishment's real selling point was that Javier, a jolly dwarf of Corezan stock, was apparently related albeit distantly to Candyaxe Flint of Qadis. He had an eye watering selection of drinks on offer and he was making a killing selling to the wealthy and idle of Marn. It would be just what Renee needed.
Now free of the stifling confines of that hellish building, she passed a hand through her hair, eyes glittering in the torchlight, and flashed Renee something like her usual, sunshine smile. The wheels were turning again, which was good, though they were turning a little too quickly at the minute, and she had to slow her thoughts down and force them into line. Adrenaline was a wonderful motivator, but it muddled things if one wasn't careful, and they had to be careful in how they spun this. Renee's proclamations to Quirke were bold and calculated, but problematic in the long term if she was not prepared to play the part. As for the rest, thanks to that shifter's thoughtlessness, there was no evidence at all that it was anything other than a break in, and as for cleaning up the glass, well, they could talk around that. Held hostage and whatnot.
"They're working for you here," she said, settling into stride, "you were attacked. Your store was broken into. How DARE they make you feel at fault?"
She noticed that her natural accent was beginning to reassert itself too, as it often did when she was under stress. While her first instinct was to bury it under her street vendor manner, but she reined the impulse in as quickly as it had appeared. No, Renee was an ally and she had to work to keep her as such. Honesty was the only way forward there, or at least the appearance of it. Make her feel like an insider in this little game, be helpful, and that would lay the groundwork for future cooperation. She just had to be patient and hope to Changers that that Shifter stayed away until they could get a handle on things. On that topic, she turned to her companion, keeping pace easily.
"Sorry about my reaction back there," she said, smiling sheepishly, "a building fell on me once and I have not been able to abide the indoors since."
No, now they needed something fun to do to help Renee regain her power and feel balanced, and with the Guard down at this end of town, their path to the Night Market would be quite unobstructed. The residential district was wonderful like that she reflected; the law was for other people to obey, but if you weren't upper crust and you pushed your luck, private law could be far more unforgiving than the Guard could ever dream of being. Clasping Renee's hand tightly, she set off at a run, pulling the other woman along with her, and she darted down side streets and around quiet corners. In spite of the curfew, the night people of the city were well in evidence, drunks, cutpurses and strumpets all going about their merry business, and Ren lead Renee confidently away from any large clusters or likely groups.
"Come on! There is this absolutely wonderful place I know where we can drain a glass or two."
Javier's was a more than tolerable little gin mill, if one could find it, though the establishment's real selling point was that Javier, a jolly dwarf of Corezan stock, was apparently related albeit distantly to Candyaxe Flint of Qadis. He had an eye watering selection of drinks on offer and he was making a killing selling to the wealthy and idle of Marn. It would be just what Renee needed.
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Renee Raialagos
- Citizen
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:45 pm
- Name: Renee Raialagos
- Race: Human-Elf Halfbreed
Re: A Marnian Welcome
Renee hadn’t lived for 36 years in Marn without being aware that the city had a night side. But she was still not comfortable with being out among the rabble and felt quite grateful when Brokk guided her so smoothly around the groups of suspect looking people.
They arrived at an unremarkable and average house at a side alley, midway between the university and the more populated areas. The upper part of the building was closed and dark, but there was a stone staircase leading down from the street level to a rectangular area outside a simple basement door. On the other side of this small “square” there was another staircase leading up to the street again. It was obvious that at some point, for some reason, people had made this walkway “dive down” to pass by the basement, and with an open space in front of the door.
Renee might have seen this place before. But in that case it would have been in daytime, and she hadn’t thought twice about it. If she had ever passed by, it wasn’t a place she recalled. It was not a warm evening exactly, but this time of the year it wasn’t too cold to spend an evening outdoors, in particular not for people who had “walked very fast” and could need to cool down a bit. Renee wasn’t freezing when she followed Brokk down the stairs to the quite crowded open place.
The small “square” could be describes as something of a “hole in the wall”. It was framed by the street above on three sides, the “walls” covered with rough brick walls of the more practical can then embellishing kind. There were simple wooden benches along the walls and in front of them an assortment of small and very temporary tables in form of small crates and barrels were scattered in a random looking way, some of them carrying robust pewter lanterns and all of them carrying a wild collection of goblets, tankards, glasses, bottles and mugs. The people who were gathered there were a varied bunch. Some quite well dressed, others looking like riff raff. Perhaps this unorthodox mix of people, that looked to be from different social circles, crammed together in this small place, was the reason for the somewhat exited and loud atmosphere. Or maybe it was just because of the drinking.
Renee looked at the basement door, unsure of what to do next. Should they enter? She recalled what Brokk had said about her fear of being indoors. But most of all she recalled the mindless way the saleswoman had behaved when she had given in to this fear back at Renee’s shop. Renee wasn’t keen on a repeat. It had been bad enough the first time.
But Renee felt she really, really wanted a drink. Alcohol wasn’t something she used often, but it seemed justified tonight. She opened the door and peered in.
The inside of the place looked as simple as the outdoors part as far as she was able to see, with more of the wooden benches and uncomplicated tables. It looked a bit like a crafting workshop, or a lab. But she also saw a few pillars and vaults that looked surprisingly beautiful, and some drapes that seemed to have been put up in an attempt to add a more cozy feeling. A short, jolly man behind a counter was making a boisterous show of pouring drinks of all sorts. Obviously a ... dwarf. Everything was becoming more exotic by the minute! It might have deterred some. But to an eccentric like Renee all this came off as interesting.
It seemed even more crowded indoors. She hesitated and glanced at Brokk, not sure if the woman would dare to enter. My. It might turn out to be really troublesome with a business partner who didn't dare to go indoors at places - she made a mental note to take this drawback into consideration when it came to possible future cooperation. If Brokk wasn't able to control herself and would conduct herself as a madwoman in places Renee might not want to visit alone, then what would the point be ... but she would think of this later. Right now only the drinks was what counted.
“Do you want to go inside ?" she asked. "Or should I go in and buy drinks for us while you wait out here?”
They arrived at an unremarkable and average house at a side alley, midway between the university and the more populated areas. The upper part of the building was closed and dark, but there was a stone staircase leading down from the street level to a rectangular area outside a simple basement door. On the other side of this small “square” there was another staircase leading up to the street again. It was obvious that at some point, for some reason, people had made this walkway “dive down” to pass by the basement, and with an open space in front of the door.
Renee might have seen this place before. But in that case it would have been in daytime, and she hadn’t thought twice about it. If she had ever passed by, it wasn’t a place she recalled. It was not a warm evening exactly, but this time of the year it wasn’t too cold to spend an evening outdoors, in particular not for people who had “walked very fast” and could need to cool down a bit. Renee wasn’t freezing when she followed Brokk down the stairs to the quite crowded open place.
The small “square” could be describes as something of a “hole in the wall”. It was framed by the street above on three sides, the “walls” covered with rough brick walls of the more practical can then embellishing kind. There were simple wooden benches along the walls and in front of them an assortment of small and very temporary tables in form of small crates and barrels were scattered in a random looking way, some of them carrying robust pewter lanterns and all of them carrying a wild collection of goblets, tankards, glasses, bottles and mugs. The people who were gathered there were a varied bunch. Some quite well dressed, others looking like riff raff. Perhaps this unorthodox mix of people, that looked to be from different social circles, crammed together in this small place, was the reason for the somewhat exited and loud atmosphere. Or maybe it was just because of the drinking.
Renee looked at the basement door, unsure of what to do next. Should they enter? She recalled what Brokk had said about her fear of being indoors. But most of all she recalled the mindless way the saleswoman had behaved when she had given in to this fear back at Renee’s shop. Renee wasn’t keen on a repeat. It had been bad enough the first time.
But Renee felt she really, really wanted a drink. Alcohol wasn’t something she used often, but it seemed justified tonight. She opened the door and peered in.
The inside of the place looked as simple as the outdoors part as far as she was able to see, with more of the wooden benches and uncomplicated tables. It looked a bit like a crafting workshop, or a lab. But she also saw a few pillars and vaults that looked surprisingly beautiful, and some drapes that seemed to have been put up in an attempt to add a more cozy feeling. A short, jolly man behind a counter was making a boisterous show of pouring drinks of all sorts. Obviously a ... dwarf. Everything was becoming more exotic by the minute! It might have deterred some. But to an eccentric like Renee all this came off as interesting.
It seemed even more crowded indoors. She hesitated and glanced at Brokk, not sure if the woman would dare to enter. My. It might turn out to be really troublesome with a business partner who didn't dare to go indoors at places - she made a mental note to take this drawback into consideration when it came to possible future cooperation. If Brokk wasn't able to control herself and would conduct herself as a madwoman in places Renee might not want to visit alone, then what would the point be ... but she would think of this later. Right now only the drinks was what counted.
“Do you want to go inside ?" she asked. "Or should I go in and buy drinks for us while you wait out here?”
Re: A Marnian Welcome
"Of course I want to go in," she said, raising an eyebrow at Renee, "I'm not a child. Men expect things of a woman. They expect us to be weak and flighty, especially men like Quirke and Karris. Encourage them and they do not think to look harder. I had to encourage them. Being unable to get outside to breathe simply made it more...difficult. As long as I can get out for some air I can cope, Miss, don't you worry."
It was more complicated than that, of course, it always was with people, but in the main, she could keep a lid on her fears as long as she wasn't restrained. Being cooped up behind that screen in that room with the Guard closing in however, that had been something else. Still, there was no guarantee that it wouldn't happen again, and she could understand Renee's caution completely, even if it was a little insulting. The shopkeep was far too genteel in some ways, though she had a kind of strength, and Ren had seen more than her. Such things left scars and those scars added up over time, but with a gentle hand and patience, she could steer Renee away from some of the pitfalls and towards the profits. Although, she thought, moving towards the door, a little luck wouldn't go astray either.
"New face like yours comes in," she said, raising her voice a little to carry over the conversation, "asking questions; you're likely to make him worried."
Squeezing through the doorway, she rubbed her hands together, shivering at the change in temperature and savouring the smells of alcohol and money. The press of people was...uncomfortable, but she navigated from sturdy table to bench, to sturdy table, navigating the crowd. The various glasses and tankards glittered in the lamplight and the oily smoke from the incense braziers on the walls filtered around the multicoloured bottles on the shelves to create a rather unique atmosphere. At the centre of it all, Javier was making a show of pouring some smoking concoction or another into a pewter tankard, presumably so that it wouldn't burn through it. The dwarf's eyes lit up as he spotted Ren approaching, and he leaned on his worktop, silk shirt shining a kaleidoscope of colours.
"Ren Brokk," he called, his big, bass voice twisting in a Cerzan lilt, "as I live and breathe. What poisons are you here to sell me now?"
"Nothing worse than the poisons you sell here," she said, smiling, "and I'm not selling. Not tonight. I'm buying. Looking to introduce a friend to the finer things in life."
Javier leaned back, scratching at his beard. He was stocky, like all dwarves, though he was fighting a constant battle with his weight, and his braided beard and hair were dyed a rather amusing shade of blue-green, and his dark eyes glittered in the light of the bar. Ren could see the gears moving behind those eyes, just as she was certain that he could see the gears working behind hers. It was a rather unfortunate side effect of living in Marn for any great period of time. Outsiders were rather unwelcome at the best of times and their position was always uncertain, which bred a certain, dogged independence. But trust was hard to come by. Still, Javier was a card, and if you made him smile, he'd humour you, so Ren liked him. Sometimes a smile was all you had to sell.
"And where did you manage to dig up this friend, Ren?"
Ren nodded back to where Renee was standing, and Javier ran a calloused hand through his beard, chuckling to himself. Eventually he turned his eyes back to Ren, raising his oiled eyebrows.
"You paying?"
"Oh aye," she said, pulling out a purse, "but I think she deserves something special, don't you?"
"For something special," he said, "you must do something special for me, yes?"
"Where and when?"
"That can wait," Javier said, "for now, take a seat! I shall bring the drinks soon!"
It was more complicated than that, of course, it always was with people, but in the main, she could keep a lid on her fears as long as she wasn't restrained. Being cooped up behind that screen in that room with the Guard closing in however, that had been something else. Still, there was no guarantee that it wouldn't happen again, and she could understand Renee's caution completely, even if it was a little insulting. The shopkeep was far too genteel in some ways, though she had a kind of strength, and Ren had seen more than her. Such things left scars and those scars added up over time, but with a gentle hand and patience, she could steer Renee away from some of the pitfalls and towards the profits. Although, she thought, moving towards the door, a little luck wouldn't go astray either.
"New face like yours comes in," she said, raising her voice a little to carry over the conversation, "asking questions; you're likely to make him worried."
Squeezing through the doorway, she rubbed her hands together, shivering at the change in temperature and savouring the smells of alcohol and money. The press of people was...uncomfortable, but she navigated from sturdy table to bench, to sturdy table, navigating the crowd. The various glasses and tankards glittered in the lamplight and the oily smoke from the incense braziers on the walls filtered around the multicoloured bottles on the shelves to create a rather unique atmosphere. At the centre of it all, Javier was making a show of pouring some smoking concoction or another into a pewter tankard, presumably so that it wouldn't burn through it. The dwarf's eyes lit up as he spotted Ren approaching, and he leaned on his worktop, silk shirt shining a kaleidoscope of colours.
"Ren Brokk," he called, his big, bass voice twisting in a Cerzan lilt, "as I live and breathe. What poisons are you here to sell me now?"
"Nothing worse than the poisons you sell here," she said, smiling, "and I'm not selling. Not tonight. I'm buying. Looking to introduce a friend to the finer things in life."
Javier leaned back, scratching at his beard. He was stocky, like all dwarves, though he was fighting a constant battle with his weight, and his braided beard and hair were dyed a rather amusing shade of blue-green, and his dark eyes glittered in the light of the bar. Ren could see the gears moving behind those eyes, just as she was certain that he could see the gears working behind hers. It was a rather unfortunate side effect of living in Marn for any great period of time. Outsiders were rather unwelcome at the best of times and their position was always uncertain, which bred a certain, dogged independence. But trust was hard to come by. Still, Javier was a card, and if you made him smile, he'd humour you, so Ren liked him. Sometimes a smile was all you had to sell.
"And where did you manage to dig up this friend, Ren?"
Ren nodded back to where Renee was standing, and Javier ran a calloused hand through his beard, chuckling to himself. Eventually he turned his eyes back to Ren, raising his oiled eyebrows.
"You paying?"
"Oh aye," she said, pulling out a purse, "but I think she deserves something special, don't you?"
"For something special," he said, "you must do something special for me, yes?"
"Where and when?"
"That can wait," Javier said, "for now, take a seat! I shall bring the drinks soon!"