AG B&R recruitment

The Sideshow - Main Room

	The Sideshow is and old warehouse converted into a unique hodge-podge, a celebration of the eccentric, the curiosities, the weirdos and the freaks. Day or night it serves as bistro and club and marketplace for the oddities found within, playing an eclectic variety of music between acts on stage either indoors or out. While there is a schedule and there are regular performers, impromptu acts from the audience are highly encouraged even if they are amateur in nature.
	There is an antechamber before entry, twin red cushioned benches lining it while the walls are decorated with framed antique circus sideshow posters. This trend continues as one steps fully into the club, though the posters are mixed with paintings and photography of circus and sideshow life. Almost all of the art is for sale. In fact there is an alcove with additional unique pieces and oddities that are available. Various aquariums, mostly serving as specimen tanks, are set into the wall. The living creatures are not for sale.
	The floorplan and setup is as unique as The Sideshow itself is. The seating is a dynamic thing, predominantly set up to be community in style, with the long tables pushed together and groups encouraged to sit with one another. While there is the stray lonely table or two they are almost always reserved. One day the tables might be set up in rows to face the stage, another day they might be set up to line the perimeter. It all depends on the whims of the staff and the scheduled acts. The only things of certainty here are the location of the bar, the stage, and the sliding glass panels that open the south wall to the outside area. While there is always an open area for dancing or traveling acts, this moves as need be.

                << Important +Views Set and Places Available >>

	There is a great deal of something more here, touches of deep and vibrant color with hints of magical music just barely out of range, that betrays the fact that there is a heavy flow of Kithain traffic here. Random chimera often appear, everything from tiny humanoid creatures that constantly steal from the alcohol supply to random flashes of color.

Contents:
Caressa
Cash
Obvious Exits:
  Out <O>   Upstairs <Up>   VIP Area <VIP>

Cash heads over to where Caressa's at the bar, humming to himself. He orders a bottle of water, looking down the bar to the woman. "Everythin' all right?" He asks.

<FAE>  Various chimera would be atwitter with the news of the Eminence of Blades returning to the County in his ship, the Perilous! He was one of the long time faces, but had developed a habit of coming and going more frequently in recent times. The latest gossip? Some expedition that he was putting together. Something about needing help to deal with troubles in his homeland.
<FAE>  Currently? Some of said chimera were pestering Ferdinand for more stories and news of the outer parts of the Dream!

Cash smirks to Caressa. "A name? Want to share? Maybe I know them?" The man asks, twisting off the cap to his water bottle.

	"Yes, yes, I brought back some souvenirs, and no they're not for sale. Come to the oasis, and you can reach into the grab bag and have one each," muttered the feral Spaniard to ... himself?

Caressa looks to Cash, then down to a scrap of paper, squinting at it, "Moon moss? Or.." she sighs with a bit of a nervious smile. "I have no idea. Just heard some things and though I could help."

Cash huhs, shaking his head. "Dang, no. I ain't heard of that person." The man offers over, apologetically. "Huh. I mean, I'll keep an ear out? I know the security around here..." He laughs.

<FAE>  The gaggle of spritelings cheer at Ferdinand's news, and then relent in their assault, affording the youth a bit of peace as they depart, singing "~The moonmaus, the moonmaus, lives in a tiny haus, a tiny haus!~" and then its all giggles and titters and pitterpatters.

Caressa blinks and looks back over the room, her gaze focusing on Ferdinand. She bites her lip unsure of how to go about this.
Caressa inhales deeply and leaves the barstool and wanders over to the table with some caution.

She must have found him! Cash watches, chuckling a bit as he works on the water bottles.

	Ferdi looks absently in the direction of incoming motion, "Souvenirs will be shared at the oasis, /no/ excep-" but then his eyes focus and he blinks. For Caressa? She is most definitely NOT a spriteling. He'll rise from his seat, "Sorry, my apologies, I thought it was more - " A pause, "Well, somebody else."

Caressa blinks her silver-violet at him, "I heard some ...cherubs talking.. I guess you must be the one."

	"The one ... what?" The feral Spaniard gives Caressa a closer look. "I don't think we've met. No, no, I'm certain that we haven't. Buy you a drink? I'm Ferdinand." He settles back into the private booth before drawing any more attention.

Caressa settles cautiously across from the man at the offer of the drink, "A strongman, please." She accepts. "No, we haven't met. I'm Caressa."

	Ferdi flags down waitstaff and places an order - a strongman for the lady, and some port for himself. Then he leans over conspiratorially, so that he might speak in hushed tones.

At your booth, Ferdinand says "Pleased to meet you, then. I've been away for some time. So many new faces in the county! Did you want a souvenir from the deep dream as well, then?"

At your booth, Caressa blinks and tilts her head at him, "The deep dream? Umm...No? Though I am a little curious what such a souvenir is? I'm sorry. I'm still rather new to it all. I just heard you need some help. I thought I might be able to. At least, I think it falls under the rules. Right? To protect the dream?"

At your booth, Ferdinand arches an eyebrow, then gives the woman a closer regard. "Where the wyrd and the wyld meet - the furthest, deepest reaches of the Dream." A bittersweet smile, "I brought back some bottles of drink, a few other trinkets. As to the rules? Well, everybody has their own interpretation of rules, yes? But I am in no position to turn down offers of help." He leans back a little, brow furrowing as dark thoughts wash over his expressive face. "What have you heard? Was it from one of the ravens that I sent out?"

At your booth, Caressa says "I suppose the cherubs could have heard from a raven. I really don't know. They were just all aflutter when I went to feed them. I did manage to make out something about a...blockade? no. An occupation? Sounded a little like a war." Caressa absently fondles her raven pendant.

At your booth, Ferdinand nods and sighs. "My homelands are being overrun by guests who seem to have permanent designs on them, yes. Things have moved quickly, and I've been called upon to help maintain supplies, and support the resistance efforts that are underway."

At your booth, Caressa relaxes, slightly but her brow furrows. "No one should lose their homeland." She gives a pause, "How far away is your homeland? I'd like to help if I can...but if it would keep me away for awhile, I'd need to make arrangements with my family."

At your booth, Ferdinand smiles, then leans forward, "The Perilous is the fastest ship in these seas. And time passes differently in the deeper parts of the Dream. Days, weeks there sometimes end up being mere hours, maybe a day here."

At your booth, Caressa relaxes a bit more at hearing this. "That is good. So guess more importantly, what type of people are you looking for?"

At your booth, Ferdinand considers. "Well, that's a difficult question to answer, as things are changing so rapidly its challenging to anticipate what might be needed most. So I guess a team of quick witted generalists would be helpful, though most everyone has one or two things they excel at. We won't win through brute force. This calls for a defter approach. We're underdogs."

At your booth, Caressa nods, "I'm a psychologist. Good at reading and analyzing people. I'm great with a bow and working on making mine fit me better. I'm trained in first aid and medicine." She considers, "Also, I'm a...willworker. But I haven't figured out how to get that to work on the other side yet. But if I do..then I'm capable of a lot more. But if you'd rather not have me around because of that. Well, I'll have at least offered."

At your booth, Ferdinand smiles, "I was fostered on Mus, believe it or not. And one of my mentors was one of the akashayana."

At your booth, Caressa ponders that a few moment before looking back to him, "Akashic? I think I remember reading something about that once a great while back." Though this does bring her smile back to its shining glory. "Verbena, myself." She blink, "So...you are..kinain too? Not Kith?" A pause is given to think on the terms she's used the nods to herself in reassurance, primarily.

At your booth, Ferdinand nods. "I, am Don Ferdinand de la Luna, son of the eshu el Mouro Encantado - chief metallurgist, armorer and swordmaker to the Silver Knights at the Gateway Castle, and I was rited by deed as the Eminence of Blades, known to all and sundry as also the Prince of Orphans, (current) Captain of the Perilous, (current) Lord Host at the Inn of the Crescent Moon, former champion (currently in exile) of the Last Garrison at the Arcadian Gates, former page to the Most Sagacious Library of the Archmasters at the Fors Collegis Mercuris on Mus before its fall and sack, sidekick (retired) to the Exalted Guardian of the Akashic Record known as the Fiery Fist of the Phoenix, etc, etc, etc."

At your booth, Caressa stares like a doe in headlights as she listens to all the title and position. "Ooooh." Finally she remembers to breathe and blink, it was a lot to take in. "But you're not a mage then? For a heartbeat I thought I might be able to learn how to work there from you." She shrugs, "Either way. Have you any questions for me?"

At your booth, Ferdinand shakes his head, "I am not a magus, no. I mean, I have my own magics and tricks, but they pale in comparison to what the wizards of the collegis could accomplish! No, I'm just a sidekick all grown up, having lived an interesting life due in no small part to the eshu blood that runs hot in my veins." He looks to Caressa thoughtfully at her question. "As Captain, its my responsibility to ask if you have next of kin, or whom I should reach out to should anything untoward happen to you while in my care."

At your booth, Caressa mms, "My husband, Johnathan Oneiroi. " She turns her wedding band around her finger. "If anything, I am quite knowledgeable in how to retain my life. No matter where I might be. You should never have reason to go to him with such news."

At your booth, Ferdinand nods, "If I've learned anything in my travels near and far, its to never say never, but thank you. If nothing else, it puts my mind at ease, which will be better for focus."

At your booth, Caressa bites her lip and nods. "True enough, certainly. Just give me direction where to meet you then? You will need to be precise for me."

At your booth, Ferdinand nods. "I'll send a raven with directions."
At your booth, Ferdinand says "Or come collect you myself."

At your booth, Caressa grins, "Oo! I love ravens!" She blinks, "I'll meet you somewhere to be collected if need be." She chugs down the last half of her drink. "Its been a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for letting me..well, try to help."

At your booth, Ferdinand says "Thank you for offering your aid. I pay all my debts. Rest assured that your offer of camaraderie will not go forgotten."

At your booth, Caressa reaches into her purse out of habit and slides a business card over to him. "I should be getting home, but if you need to reach me." She motions towards the card as she stands. "Enjoy what rest you find before the adventure starts again."

At your booth, Ferdinand eyes the card for a moment, then nods, reaching out for it to tuck away safely. "Thank you. Same to you."