Adrian II

[18:11] It's become Katrin's habit to hawk her wares more commonly in Achyon. In particular around the bustling little cafe. It's clientele, while odd, tended to be accepting of her in addition to appreciating her craftsmanship. Not only that, but two bartenders had become beneficial acquaintances.

So it's entirely unsurprising that the smith with her rusty tools and soot-stained coat makes her way into Francisca's to once again do business.
(Katrin)
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[18:13] Upon entering the cafe, it wouldn’t take long for Katrin to spot the man behind the counter. While usually it was either Kalon or Valerian behind the counter, this time it was someone different; but still a familiar face. It wouldn’t take her long to recognize Adrian, and upon her entering his gaze shifts from the counter and towards the scruffy Drakanite.

“Ah, well if it isn’t Kay.” He states, before picking up a nearby pot. He then reaches under the counter and produced a small cup. A small metal contraption is also pulled out, and an assortment of ground herbs is placed within. After which, the hot water is poured into the cup, with the metal contraption left inside to brew.

“And what brings you to this fine establishment today? A moment of rest, maybe? Please. Sit. Have a seat.”

He gestures to the seat that sat in front of the freshly prepared tea.
(Adrian)
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[18:15] Rusdark says, "Adrian i need some food."
[18:15] The Drakan smirks, giving a short but respectful bow to Adrian. One of her first Achyonite customers. How could she ever forget? It was rare for her to not recall the face of someone that had paid for her services. Coin is a great aid for memory.

"The one and only. Good to see you, mister Adrian. Think I'll take you up on that." Without further ado she takes a seat in one of those plush chairs she's come to adore so much. "A lil' rest, a lil' business. Great works and inspiration don't find themselves, y'know.

Don't suppose you'll be needing any work done? I like to breeze through too to check on Kal and Rams. They're good for talk and sometimes business."
(Katrin)
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[18:16] Adrian gestures to the shop to his side.
(Adrian)
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[18:17] I guess i cant get free food from Alfredo he already know about my scam.

Rusdark Thinks to himself while turning into a sad face.
(Rusdark)
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[18:18] The cup is pushed closer to her for ease of access; and a small plate of what one could assume was cake was placed next to it. At which point, the metal contraption is removed and placed back below the counter.

"I do have a few things I need looked at, assuming you’ve advanced enough to make high end enchantments." Last he had seen, she was capable of making quality repairs. One could only assume she was close to mastering her craft.

"But other than that, there’s nothing I need crafted. Not urgently, at least." He glances back at the nearby oven. "Unless you’re good with appliances. I believe Kalon has given ol’ Betty a run for its money." A faint smirk spreads across his face.

"If you don’t mind me asking, don’t you ever get tired of the traveling life? Roaming from city to city, peddling what wares you can. Haven’t you ever wanted to... set down a shop, and maybe..." His eyes scan over the roughed up and dirtied clothing.

"Get some new clothes..?"
(Adrian)
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[18:21] The people of this establishment sure loved their tea. All the cups Kalon served her while she was here on business was evidence enough. Grubby smith though she may be, she's been spoiled on the good stuff. She gives Adrian a gracious nod, hoists the cup, and takes a sip. There lies a touch of refinement beneath her dusty, calloused exterior. Just a touch.

"Actually, I'm really worth my salt now. Enchanting I can handle. Hell, I'd bet I can handle the appliances too. I've seen him put the poor thing through it's paces," she says with a snicker. There's a pause as she reaches for the cake that's offered alongside the tea. She chews over the query, rather than the confection.

"Can't say I get asked that. I got a few places I got anvils set up. Nothing fancy, really. Fancy's hard to get. And expensive." Coin trickles in, but it trickles in slowly. "I like my travel, don't get me wrong. Inspiration and experience doesn't come from sitting around. But a brick and mortar shop with all the fixings? It's something I'd work towards. Real estate though all over is a pain." She glances down at her dust-coated duds.

"...Okay, yeah. And I mean. That too."
(Katrin)
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[18:24] The tea was their speciality.

Adrian eventually picks up the left over dishes, and each one is placed in a sink near the back of the bar. He moves with speed and grace, unfitting of someone of his size. He eventually returns, the ever present smile remaining on his face.

"Oh, have you? Excellent. I will have to commission some of your wares, then." There was much he still needed to be done, and very few artificers were around.

Cha-Ching.

"I can understand that, though. The desire to roam, I mean. Every now and then I’ll also roam around, seeing what exciting events I can find." What might strike Katrin as odd, however, is his expression never seems to change. Whenever he speaks its with precise wording. His every action is like a well practiced play. And his mannerisms were always polite.

Perhaps even too polite, enough to be unnerving to some.

"Sometimes I also think about purchasing a house. But I never realized it’d be such a difficult endeavour." It was certainly not from a lack of trying; but it seemed as if every house in Esshar was snatched up the moment they became available.

"But tell me, dear Kay. Are you happy as you are now? A roaming blacksmith with little purpose other than to smith? Haven’t you ever desired..." He pauses for a moment, before an eerie smile spreads across his lips.

"More?"
(Adrian)
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[18:27] It's strange to see someone so nobly dressed doing things so menial; it's more strange to see the long-limbed Adrian do it with such elegance and poise. Ever little movement a dance, a routine that seems as if he's practiced step-for-step. The only thing that keeps her from applauding it is the rare desire to be polite.

"'Course! My work's some of the finest. Some of my peers don't give me the credit I'm due, but they don't matter." They'd only be 'peers' for so long. She's on her way up and nothing will get in her way. He detractors would one day soon be beneath her.

"Yeah. I was lucky to snatch up a hole in the ground here and there. It's a tough time out there to find something that's not a little joint."

Again she's given pause. Adrian's good with his questions, thought provoking. Katrin rolls the cup of tea between her hands.

"I mean...yeah. Sure. I want more. I like my work. But I wanna be the BEST at it. I don't wanna have any equal, and I want to make things so grand they'll echo after I'm gone." The Drakan frowns and leans forward over her cup. "Big wide world out there, mister Adrian. Lots of know-how for my trade. And I wanna make as many of those secrets of my craft mine."

Not to mention that distant legacy her family had once had. Something that, in passing distant daydreams, she'd thought of reclaiming a sliver of.

Those of dragon blood had a habit of being covetous. Kay was no exception, even if what she coveted was not quite the same as most.
(Katrin)
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[18:29] With the dishes out of the way, Adrian returns his attention back towards Katrin.

"I'm certain it is." He replies, before pulling out yet another cup, this time placed closer to himself. Once again he goes through the motions of preparing a cup of tea, and soon the cafe is filled with the fragrant scent of herbs. "But you are still young. People will recognize that talent in due time, I'm certain." The eerie politeness never fades. A smile so genuine it is almost uncanny. There was something about the way he acted that seemed so very unnatural.

"What do you say about a business proposal, hmm?" He adds, before taking a sip of his freshly made tea. The man stares at the cup for a brief moment, before turning his gaze back towards Katrin. "Come work for me at this Cafe. It'll serve as a wonderful place for you to sell your wares. And in time, perhaps you will become something more..."

The eerie grin returns, and a stare that seemed to look deep into Katrin's soul.

"Something so much more."

What exactly he meant by that, however, was uncertain.
(Adrian)
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[18:33] "Exactly. Time and effort and all that good stuff. Doesn't mean I'm not going to work my tail off to see it done," she says with a soft huff, folding her arms. She keeps them folded close. Something about the well-to-do Achyonite is...

Unnerving.

She remains just like that until he mentions a business proposal. Then he has her full attention again, eeriness or not. Katrin starts to lean forward.

"...Working here. For you?" she echoes, pointing from her to himself. "I mean. You make a real tempting offer. But I'll need details. What'd this entail?" He's got coin. Coin and a willingness to spend it. Therian shrewdness still makes her want to see more in writing. "I could set up a shop, here? Could I still roam and sell to other parties and all that?"
(Katrin)
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[18:36] "It’s quite simple, really." Adrian replies, his pale blue eyes remaining fixated upon the young Drakanite. "You are free to hang around the cafe, and peddle your wares to the countless customers that come here."

His hand raises, and two fingers are raised.

"This serves two purposes. First, it lets you operate out of the cafe rather than some hole in the wild. And due to such, it brings both recognition to both you and our cafe. As more people hear of you, they come to this cafe to purchase your wares, and in turn, purchase ours.

Second, it serves as a way to get your name around. This is quite a busy cafe, I assure you." Two birds with one stone, one might say.

"Of course, you will have to pay rent just like any other merchant, but..." Adrian takes a moment to drink from his cup. "There are methods to pay outside of coin. We’re not so greedy as to take what coin you find."
(Adrian)
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[18:39] Opportunity was knocking. And the temptation grows. The little cafe was the hotspot of most of Achyon's hustle and bustle, far as she could tell. That little gleam of gold in her eyes grows as she contemplates the possibilities.

"So...I could have an honest to gods shop here. Could still sell wherever I wanted too though, hopefully. I could keep my coin, pay a lil' rent?" she says, hoping for confirmation. Then there was the matter of price, of payment. When it came to business it always had to come around to that sooner or later.

But of course she's interested in any way to keep her hard earned money.

"Alright. I'll bite. Would I have to tend the bar here or something like Kal and Rams?"
(Katrin)
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[18:41] Of course she would accept. It was a deal far too good to be true. A deal with yet unforeseen repercussions.

"Excellent!" Adrian exclaims, his hands clapping together in delight. "I'll have Kalon or Valerian deal with your..." He gestures towards the tattered rags Katrin called clothes. "Outfit. But I believe that will take care of most things."

A shake of his head follows.

"Of course not. Unless you want to. You can merely offer wares to those who visit, and it'll provide you with a place of respite while you travel. Quite a good deal, if you ask me."

And yet why did the ominous feeling in the air not abate? Like a cold chill running down her spine.
(Adrian)
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[18:44] Her Therian sensibilities were throwing off all kinds of alarms. It was a good deal. A deal FAR too good to be true. Or...Or maybe, a voice within her says, he's just got that much money to throw around. That's what the rich folks around here liked to do, wasn't it? A show of affluence, or something of that nature. Far be it from her to not take advantage of it when the opportunity was presented.

"...Can have an anvil set up here? Whole shop? A bed, the works? But what is it I owe ya?" she presses. And then the was the nebulous promise of 'more'. "Don't get me wrong. It's a good deal. Solid as they come, sounds like."

By nature of her breed and trade she is hot blooded. Yet she can't shake the chill that pervades the air around and prickles at her flesh. A cold that slowly started to settle into her very bones.
(Katrin)
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[18:55] "An anvil..?"

Ah yes, an anvil. His head swivels to the back room, and he gestures to the plain stone anvil that sits in the back. "That is all we can provide for now. If you wish to build an even better anvil, that's on you. But granted how public this place is, it might not be the best idea..." After all, it was a place many people frequented. If some spotted a golden anvil, they would no doubt take liberty in using it.

Much to Katrin's detriment.

"Do not worry about what you owe me for now. That will come at another time." It was far too early to speak of it now, despite the hunger that seemed to whisper in the back of his mind. Even now, his throat itched.

But he couldn't act, not yet.

"Let's just get you up on your feet, first."
(Adrian)
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[18:58] Sadly, there were those that would take advantage of such a thing in the open. Katrin is also one of those people. She peers past Adrian and nods.

"Alright. Think I can hack that. No one's seemed to mind me selling here, but this'll make it official. That mean I can kick out any other artificers?" she asks, brow raised. The crafter just had to go and push her luck. Just a bit. All part of the art of the deal.

"Right, right. Just don't go hoodwinking me, sir. And we'll be fine. I'll trust you to act in good faith for now."

The nobleman had already had his weapon repaired. The people of the establishment had done right by her- no matter how suspect they might have seemed at times. There was no room for scruples too much when progress was on the line.
(Katrin)
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[19:06] "No, you cannot kick out other merchants. If they become a problem, then let Valerian or Kalon know. We'll handle it from there." While he expected there to be some competition, its likely there wouldn't be too much to offset Katrins own sales.

"I've no intention of hoodwinking you, my dear Katrin. Quite the opposite, in fact. I want you to succeed. I want you to grow, and become something so much more." The eerie grin spreads across his face, and the ominous feeling continues to weigh heavily upon Katrin.

"So much more. But!" He claps his hands together, and the ominous feeling seems to fade.

"That will be all for now. We'll handle the nitty gritty at a later time."
(Adrian)
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[19:11] "Eeeeh...Fine. S'fair," she says, considering it. She hadn't encountered much competition here anyway. No need to rock the boat with a potentially beneficial business relationship.

"'Course, sir. Just good business practice is all."

While those words were no doubt supposed to be encouraging and heartening- who wouldn't want to have their art, their craft, invested in?- the way they struck felt...Off. Along with the nobleman's look.

It all fades with the clap, as if dispersing a miasma.

"Oh, right. Figure you're a busy man. Thank ya for the opportunity, mister Adrian."

The Drakan pops right up from her seat and bows gently into the proprietor's direction.

"Figure I should talk to Kal or Valerian when I see 'em?"
(Katrin)
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[19:12] "Not a problem, my dear Katrin. Not a problem at all."

After all this, was a beneficial transaction for the two of them. But perhaps not in the way she was expecting. Nonetheless, he eventually takes the cup and places it into the pile of dishes.

"Speaking with them would be best, yes. They handle most of the day to day running of this place. They'll help you with your clothes and everything else."
(Adrian)