Author Topic: By Word of Mouth... (Read 1261 times)

RollinsCat · « **on:** March 31, 2011, 10:00:49 AM »

...a few people are told the Silver Buckle will be open and holding a gambling event soon. Information is kept to those who will not run to the first bind-chaser they see.

Floors are cleaned, bottles arranged, darts procured. A fire is laid and the stage is set.

RollinsCat · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:46:16 PM »

The doors open - the first guest, Lana Poetr, takes in the new interior and gets a bear hug from the bard proprietor...

Open for business!

RollinsCat · « **Reply #2 on:** April 07, 2011, 12:44:47 PM »

"...would have liked to have been invited, if it was the first event!"

"Ed, it was just some gambling. Boss's been under the weather since or he'd have called you back."

"Opening without us? After we've waited - "

"Not opening, just a night of dice, calm down. We're not open open - just kind of...open. And there is a renter, a woman who is helping me with security."

"Helping you?" A snort. "You could have come gotten us."

"I was busy tending. He was sick. Here's his note."

Crinkled unfolding, a ruffling of paper.

Michael, Edward;

After some thought I believe we can conduct some quiet business; just the locals you trust for now. I'll leave it to you. Please be kind to the new resident if you see her. Her name is Bella. She will be doing security for us in exchange for her room. She's not an outgoing sort so bear that in mind and take nothing personally.

Under these circumstances it should be safe to bring Heloise back and so Paddy will take care of that, if she's willing to return. Be sure you escort her home each night.

In my chest (you know where my special key is) there is a bonus for you all. Ilsare has blessed me with you four. Take it in good health and keep me appraised of how things are going there.

Oh, and tell Heloise that Minu loved the clinic and left reading material and healing items for her use.

I'll be in touch

AWR

"So we're open."

"In a way, yes. Just for some. Old Jim's still asking, the Rumford twins, Spinster Edith..."

"Fine, I'll let Michael know. I'll get Helly - "

" - I was going to get her - "

Silence, thick, punctuated with tense breathing. A solid chest-thump.

"I will get her. It's not like your skinny butt's going to be the one protecting her every night."

Heavier silence, then light footsteps. A distant voice: "Fine." A heartbeat. "We'll see about that..."

cbnicholson · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:58:26 PM »

Charlie enters the buckle and approaches the bar as he nears, "Scuse me, but I wanna rent a room fer longer than a month, Is Mister Hair..I mean is Mister Andy around?"

RollinsCat · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2011, 04:06:19 PM »

The man cleaning glasses behind the bar is early twenties with tanned skin, brown eyes, and shockingly blonde hair. He is over six feet tall and has shoulders wide and hewn enough to carry tree trunks.

"Mister Reid isn't here at the moment." A long look at the young man, his tone is somewhere between suspicious and curious. "Do you know the boss?"

cbnicholson · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2011, 05:03:42 PM »

Um..yeah, ya could say that. M'name's Charlie, Charlie Poetr, Is there a room fer rent longer than a day?

RollinsCat · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2011, 05:07:23 PM »

A blink. "Poetr, you said." His eyes drift to the back hall door, then to Charlie. "Yeah, we have rooms for rent. My brother Michael will be here in a little bit and he can show you. I'm Edward. Ed." He offers a meaty hand to shake. "Want an ale if you're waiting?"

cbnicholson · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2011, 08:35:27 AM »

Charlie gives his easy going smile, "Sure! I um, ain't got much fer payment though, but let me check somethin." He digs through his pack and sets a couple of boxes on the bar marked Corn, Purple Mushrooms, and foodstuffs with a shrug.

RollinsCat · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2011, 09:28:09 AM »

"Boss'll figure something out. He's always needing silk, and we have food shelves that need supplies." A flagon of room-temperature stout plunks onto the thick bartop. "Drink fast, that's my brother in the door."

cbnicholson · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2011, 09:31:15 AM »

Charlie happily gulps down the ale, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, "So, Ed, which room is mine?"

RollinsCat · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2011, 09:44:41 AM »

The man walking in is not quite as tall or wide as Ed, and a few years older, but shares the same shockingly blonde hair. His deep pool blue eyes take in the scene at the bar and he gives Charlie a pleasant nod as he approaches.

"Afternoon, friend. Do I know you?" His eyes shift to his brother, cool, questioning. Before Charlie can answer Ed breaks in.

"This is Charlie Poetr..." Slight emphasis on the last name, and one furrow-browed moment later, Michael nods, mouthing 'Boss's friend's kid?' at his brother. The bigger man nods back and continues. "...he's come looking to let a room."

"I think we can accommodate you, Charlie. Or do you prefer Mister Poetr? Let's have a walk upstairs and I'll show you what's available. Name's Michael by the way..."

cbnicholson · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2011, 10:04:59 AM »

"Great! Um Mike, call me Charlie, my friends do." Charlie sets the mug of ale down and follows after him, pausing to evaluate the artwork on the walls.

RollinsCat · « **Reply #12 on:** April 08, 2011, 10:26:41 AM »

Michael's jaw sets at the appellation "Mike" and he shoots his brother a dark look. Ed tries to hide a laugh inside a cough, fails, and starts making minute corrections to bottles in the bar cabinet as an excuse to turn his back.

"Follow me then." A quick scan of the boxes on the bar before he starts toward the back hall door. He doesn't hurry Charlie, letting him take a look at the artwork, statues, and pottery on display as they walk.

The collection is eclectic and there is only one hanging that appears old - an unsigned black and white ink print of an archer of pure north Telish Throne descent, dressed in now-archaic Huangjin garb. The rest of the pieces are new and bright. Someone with an appraiser's eye for artwork would see a lot of striving artist's names and a few as-yet unrecognized ones.

At the far inside door Michael selects a key from many on an iron loop, swinging the double doors wide and stepping onto a landing with stairs up and down. He pauses to let Charlie catch up and ask any questions he might have.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #13 on:** April 08, 2011, 11:21:25 AM »

"This is a mighty fine place, Mike..um does it got a back door? Sometimes I get purty ragged an dirty, I dun wanna mess up the front none."

RollinsCat · « **Reply #14 on:** April 08, 2011, 12:57:25 PM »

"I'll let Mister Reid talk to you about back doors, Charlie. Up here." A short flight of steps to a main room, comfortable with bookshelves and a writing desk, and a fireside area for lounging. He leads Charlie across the lounge area and shows him where the upstairs privy is and a small room that is locked with an ornate rug in front. "This is the Benefactor Bedroom and it is for their use only when they or their families visit. It remains locked unless they are here."

There are halls to the left and right and Michael shows him five rooms off these halls, some with mahogany furniture, some with walnut, some of knotted pine. Each room has a unique, sumptuous wool rug over smooth wood floorboards, a bed large enough for two (or maybe three), a private screened-off bathtub, a bookshelf, dressers, a chest, a standing wardrobe, and a weapons rack by the door. Unlike both floors of the inn Charlie has seen, the rooms are devoid of artwork and artifice, blank slates for their inhabitants to decorate.

"Did anything catch your eye?"

cbnicholson · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2011, 01:07:38 PM »

"Um yeah, these are all real nice an all, but uh, bit too fancy fer me, Mike. Got anything smaller with a window or on the ground floor?"

RollinsCat · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2011, 01:22:33 PM »

A head shake. "The ground floor bedroom is for short stays, a few nights at most, or for family of a patient in the clinic. For long-term renters Mister Reid decided to offer luxury accommodations and better security; the Silver Buckle is warded by the Tower Academy against elemental attack and scrying, and...well...wait...hm. There is the basement..." A longish pause. "You'd best talk to him. I'll send a message and see if he's close by." Michael leads Charlie back to the bar and heads out to the nearest bird messenger.

RollinsCat · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2011, 01:45:06 PM »

The day wears on; locals visit and both Edward and Michael keep a sharp eye on who comes through the door. Charlie is offered food and more drink and Edward is content to shoot the breeze as he alternates bartending and security. Business is steady but contained.

A little before sunset a petite, pretty girl in her late teens enters and bounces to the bar. "Eddie, Michael!" Her smile is radiant, framed by waves of golden-brown curls and long-lashed eyes that flicker from brown to green in candlelight. "I saw Mister Andrew, he's coming from the east gate. Something about a renter?" With that she offers Charlie a smile, dropping into practiced hostess mode. "Can I get you something sir?"

cbnicholson · « **Reply #18 on:** April 08, 2011, 02:40:29 PM »

Charlie grins laughing at a joke Ed just told him about a horse, "No thank ya, Miss, I'm stuffed like a holiday turkey as it is. Did I hear ya say Mister Andy's comin? I'd be the renter in question. I'm Charlie by the way." His grin turns into a sincere smile. "I sure hope ya work here an that Mister Andy pays ya well. "

RollinsCat · « **Reply #19 on:** April 08, 2011, 03:29:09 PM »

Her smile is bright in return. Edward's shoulders tense. "I do and he does. I'll be helping Miss Elly in the clinic too!" Michael bumps his brother and eyes the front door.

"Mister Reid." There is a smile in his voice and maybe a hint of relief.

Edward nods, one eyeball still on Charlie and the curly-haired girl. "Boss." The girl turns toward the tall Tilmarian man walking toward them, with twinkle in her eyes.

"I warned them you were coming." Her face lights up at the proprietor's exaggerated head-shake.

"Too much time around Paddy, Milady. So four on one, eh? Hello Charlie, you're here for a room?"