First Meeting With Adrian

[19:32] If anywhere was going to need work done, surely it would be Achyon. She's not too keen to wander it's streets, no, but work had to be found somewhere. Katrin could hammer metal until the cows came home, but it wouldn't earn her bread for her belly, nor would it help her hone her craft.

"Hey there, sir. 'Scuse me," she calls out, trying to flag down what looked like a person of some wealth. Those who had coin and those who had work were liable to go hand-in-hand.
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:38] Adrian had just left the café and had begun making his way through the streets of Achyon. While he had no particular destination in mind, it would do him good to get out and gets some fresh air. He could only handle being cooped up in the café for so long, after all.

But before he could travel too far, a voice calling out to him caused him to stop in place. Pale blue eyes shift to look over at the source of the voice; and lands squarely upon the young Drakanite.

"Hmm..?" Adrian states, as he fully turns to face Katrin.

"Yes, what is it?"
(Adrian)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:42] Clearly if she was going to make any headway, she was going to have to be a little more direct in her approach. Addressing crowds hadn't been cutting it. Maybe singling them out would fare better.

"Hey there, sir. Saw that gun at your back. I'm an artificer, I see, and looking for some work. Need a little polish, oil, or lacquer there for your sidearm?

It'll only cost you a mean ten coins. Honest."

Ten coins wasn't a lot, but it'd be enough for a meal.
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:44] Adrian quirks a brow.

Truthfully, he had never been approached for this sort of thing. In fact, it was usually the other way around. Long queues to see an artificer to have work done was the norm within the technologically advanced city of Achyon, so for one to approach him and ask was a gesture he was wholly unexpecting.

"I-..."

He blinks.

"Yes. Actually, I do."

Were they pauper? Someone down on their luck?

An eerie grin is barely suppressed, only for it to be replaced with one that seemed almost too friendly. And so, his rifle is unsheathed from his back, and presented to Katrin.

"I believe it could use some maintenance, yes."
(Adrian)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:50] Thankfully, this time, her initiative bears fruit. There's a soft, almost hissed 'yesss' as she mimes a fist pump. Score.

"Great! Just let me take a look see," she says eagerly, stepping forward to carefully take hold of the rifle. He seems friendly enough. And coin is coin. Katrin starts by examining the weapon's bolt, sliding it back and forth and applying oil.

"This one's in way better condition than the first one I saw, honestly. Poor thing looked beat to Hel and back." The Drakan makes banter as she sees to the weapons maintenance. A little grease here, a bit of lacquer applied to the stock where it was wearing thin there.

"Haven't stuck around in Achyon too much, but I have to hand it to 'em. They make a real nice shooter. Honestly pretty impressive."
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:01] Adrian watches in silence as Katrin promptly gets to work on repairing his rifle. Despite first glance, it was no doubt an advanced rifle fitting of Achyon technology. Carved from the finest ivory and lined with orichalcum engravings, it was no doubt a weapon fitting of a wealthy individual, or perhaps a lucky one.

"Is that so?" Adrian eventually chimes in as the Drakanite continued the repairs. He wasn't quite sure what she had been through, but given her dirty clothes and cheap price for work, she had no doubt been through quite a bit.

"Ah, yes. Yes they do. I'm rather new to Achyon myself, actually." He admits, before taking the rifle back. He takes a moment to give it a brief inspection, before nodding and placing it back into its holster. At which point, he reaches into his coin purse and pulls out a handful of coins.

"Here, for your work."

It was not the ten coins she had asked for; but in fact quitea bit more.

"This should help, if nothing else."
(Adrian)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:01] {Item} Picked up a bag of 200 dropped by Adrian.
[20:03] Katrin had picked well. She hadn't been mistaken when she'd spied what she thought was dazzling pearl and Orchilacum inlay. The very real urge to whistle, impressed, has to be suppressed as she treats the weapon with utmost care.

"I wouldn't mind meeting the one that made this and shaking their hand. It looks absolutely gorgeous," she remarks. Of course, you had to have some serious dough to crank out a masterpiece like that. Alas, a good artificer was not wise to be starving.

"Yeah? Not from around here myself, so you're not alone there."

The Drakan does a double-take as she receives the satchel of coin. That's decidedly not the measly ten she'd asked for. If there's one thing she ought to know it's the weight of metal in her palm.

Quickly she tucks it away and bows her head.

"Real generous, sir. Thanks. Name's Kay. I appreciate the pay."
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:05] Rupert Barnaby says, "What a beautiful couple."
[20:06] Katrin says, "--"
[20:06] Katrin says, "Whoa, whoa. Nah. Nope. "
[20:06] Adrian squints.
(Adrian)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:06] Katrin says, "I'm a professional. I don't truck with that."
[20:07] Rupert Barnaby says, "Oh, forgive me then. But you -would- make a beautiful couple. Just putting that out there."
[20:07] Rupert Barnaby says, "Into the universe."
[20:08] Katrin asks, "Yeah, well. I'm going to put it out into the universe right back that I'm not the keeping type of gal. Okay?"
[20:08] Rupert blushes.
(Rupert Barnaby)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:08] Katrin says, ". . . ."
[20:08] Katrin says, "Wh-"
[20:08] Katrin appears, unsurprisingly, absolutely befuddled.
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:12] "I've never met the actual craftsman, to be fair." He replies, after taking a moment to admire the craftsmanship of the gun. It was a gun he picked up at one of the countless stalls that littered the Achyon markets. Another mass produced weapon that countless others wielded.


But it served its purpose all the same.

"And don't mention it. It's only fair to pay someone properly for doing a job well done." Even he could tell that his rifle was once more in peak condition, a telling sign that the pauper knew what she was doing when it came to repairs.

"A pleasure, Kay." Adrian replies, before giving a small yet polite bow. "I am Adrian."
(Adrian)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:13] "And I'm Rupert!"
The man grins big, but he suddenly feels a towering shadow looming over here.
'Don't cause trouble now.' the Bouncer says sternly in his ear. A shiver went up Rupert's spine.

Chuckling nervously, he'd step to Adrian and Katrin.
"Well, I do believe I owe you my business, Kay. Still in? I pinky promise that I'll leave you alone after this."
(Rupert Barnaby)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:17] "Shame. It's a gorgeous thing. Even better, looks like it fires a treat too. Hoping to study more of 'em while I'm about in Achyon," she remarks. Then her slit eyes shift leftward, onto Rupert.

She gives him a rare glare, then turns to him. At least the bouncer's got the sense to offer the poor pink-haired chap a warning.

"Yeah, yeah. Woman of my word and all. Besides, wouldn't be right to leave this poor thing in such a mess," Katrin states, taking the hand-me-down rifle. She applies a few drops of oil from an old can to the bolt and works it into the metal with a couple sharp 'clicks' of the action. Another layer of lacquer carefully applied to the stock.

"Jeez. I didn't know any better, I'd say you were using at a club and not as a gun," the artificer grumbles.
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:18] {Item} Picked up a bag of 20 dropped by Rupert Barnaby.
[20:18] Rupert was indeed sometimes using it as a club. He chuckles nervously.
(Rupert Barnaby)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:18] Rupert Barnaby says, "Ahahahha..."
[20:19] Katrin says, "...Please don't- treat it better than that, man, c'mooon."
[20:19] Rupert Barnaby says, "Okay. I will. Promise!~"
[20:19] Rupert Barnaby says, "It's good as new. You're the best, Kay! I'll see you guys around maybe."
[20:19] Katrin asks, "When you want an upgrade though, something of your own, come talk to me, yeah?"
[20:19] Katrin says, "Sure, sure...just tone it down next time."
[20:19] Rupert Barnaby exclaims, "Oh, for sure!"
[20:19] Rupert Barnaby says, "I'm really good at getting toned."
[20:19] Katrin deadpans.
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:20] Rupert Barnaby says, "Have a great evening!~"
[20:20] Rupert whistles as he walks off.
(Rupert Barnaby)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:20] Katrin says, "Uh. Uh huh. You too."
[20:20] Katrin says, "...What a weirdo."
[20:20] Adrian says, "..."
[20:21] Adrian says, "...Anyway."
[20:22] Katrin says, "Yeah, anywho."
[20:22] Adrian says, "If you need a place to rest your weary head, the cafe just above us is open."
[20:22] Katrin asks, "Yeah, but I bet it costs a pretty penny, huh?"
[20:22] Adrian says, "Yes, well. Not that much."
[20:23] Katrin says, "Well, I could maybe splurge a bit. I can mull it over."
[20:23] Katrin asks, "So you're not from Achyon, huh? What brings you here then?"
[20:23] Adrian says, "That's..."
[20:23] Adrian says, "A long story."
[20:23] Katrin says, "Oh, right right. Not trying to pry."
[20:24] Adrian says, "Head on in, have a seat."
[20:24] Adrian says, "Relax."
[20:25] Katrin quirks a brow. She glances around, back up to Adrian, then to the cafe.
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:25] Katrin says, "Well. Is kinda' late. Sure."
[20:25] Katrin runs face first into the door.
(Katrin)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:26] Adrian says, "...Turn the doorknob."
[20:27] Katrin says, "I did. It's locked, sir."
[20:27] Adrian says, "..Ah."
[20:27] Adrian says, "Perhaps it's a bit too late."
[20:27] Adrian says, "...Alas."
[20:27] Katrin says, "Yeah, that's alright. I've gotten pretty good at finding spots to sleep out of the way."
[20:30] Adrian says, "Use that money I gave you to rent at an inn."
[20:30] Katrin asks, "Does this place have any? Other than this one?"
[20:30] Katrin says, "-Well, guess I can actually go look. Thanks, mister Adrian."
[20:31] Adrian says, "Of course."
[20:31] Adrian says, "Visit again soon, I may have a business proposal."
[20:31] Katrin says, "Yeah? I mean, I'm all ears. Always looking for work."
[20:31] Katrin says, "But I get that it's late, if you got places to be."
[20:31] Adrian smirk
(Adrian)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:31] Adrian says, "See you around, Kay."