Logs:Business Trip
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| RL Date: 3 May, 2013 |
| Who: R'co, Hattie |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr, Fort Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: R'co visits Fort for business purposes, and bumps into a suspicious Weyrwoman. |
| Where: Northern Bowl, Fort Weyr |
| When: Day 8, Month 9, Turn 31 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Clear and impossibly blue skies carry a hint of autumnal woodsmoke on the breeze. |
| Mentions: Azaylia/Mentions, Aishani/Mentions |
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| Northern Bowl, Fort Weyr This section of the bowl is just as devoid of plantlife as the central portion, the sandy soil having been packed more solidly due to the sheer amount of foot traffic passing through. While there are weyrs located to both the east and west, there are very few toward the north. Toward the northwest would be the ledges for the junior goldriders, while a second flight of stairs leads up to the Weyrleaders' complex. A little to the northeast is the entrance to the hatching cavern, while an entrance to the living cavern is located directly to the east. At the opposite and distant southeastern end of the bowl would be the lake and feeding grounds, with the weyrling barracks and infirmary to the southwest and southeast, respectively. The clear blue skies of Fort are a far cry from the gloomy grey ones that R'co and Deveriteauxth have just left behind in High Reaches. Having just appeared from between high above the Weyr, the ink-and-parchment brown dragon begins a long, lazy spiral downwards, greeting the watchdragon as he does so. Once he's landed in the bowl, R'co drops lightly from Deveriteauxth's back and begins peeling off his gloves and helmet, tucking them into a pouch before tugging down a bag from where it's secured to the straps. From the way he handles it, it's both heavy and containing something fragile - there's even the delicate chink of glass against glass, for anyone with keen ears to hear. Elaruth's senses are by far (and painfully) superior to Hattie's, so of the two of them, it's the little queen sat on her ledge and observing the goings on in the early-morning sunshine who picks up on the scratchy chink of glass against glass, letting the noise drawn her attention down to the brown and rider whose presence she is already aware of; a different mind amongst the familiar ones of Fort. Her curiosity draws Hattie out from their weyr, the Weyrwoman in the process of pinning her hair up and straightening the thin straps of her bright pink sundress, leather jack thrown over the top to ward off the beginnings of autumn's chill. Who is that down there? And so Hattie begins to descend the stairs, her attention fixed on Deveriteauxth and R'co. R'co's dawdling by his lifemate's side, perhaps conversing with him, perhaps just plain killing time. The brown does send a mental greeting Elaruth's way; a refreshingly cold aniseed-scented green, both respectful and curious about the unknown mind. Finally, R'co slap-pats his lifemate's foreleg, squinting up at the sky before moving to step around the bulk of his large brown's body, headed with a slow, tourist's sashay towards the living cavern. Hattie's step hastens so that she might just be able to make her path join and then effectively block R'co's, all the while trying to make it look that she's in absolutely no hurry whatsoever. When she does finally manage to plant herself somewhere between the brownrider and the way of the caverns, she stops, dark gaze lifting only slightly to look him in the eye. "Hello." Does she challenge everyone like that? Or only brownriders who appear when a junior queen might possibly be that much of a brighter shade of gold? Elaruth is less invasive, her acknowledgement of Deveriteauxth without words, only the chill of cool water and the brush of sparkling, pure white mist to greet him. "Hello," R'co echoes, looking near dead-on at the woman in front of him who's of such a similar height. And then a moment of recognition - perhaps aided by his lifemate. "Hello, Weyrwoman Hattie, if I'm not mistaken?" This time, it's said a little more formally, and comes with a salute as well as a bright smile. "Your weather here is far more pleasant than what we've got at home. It's all awful thick cloud and grey skies threatening to rain on us. Fort is far more hospitable to sun-seekers." "That would be me, yes," Hattie confirms, low-voiced. "And you are?" If Elaruth has supplied one name, it seems that she's been (deliberately?) remiss in handing over the other. She glances up at the sky as if only now noting the pleasantness of the autumn morning, or perhaps it's only to seem polite and follow the path of the stranger's words before she asks, "What brings you here?" in what isn't quite an interrogative tone. Then, as if it pains her to have to enquire, "Elaruth would like to know what's in the bag." How embarrassing. R'co's hand comes up to his mouth, and he cants his head apologetically at Hattie. "I'm so sorry, I must've dropped my manners between! R'co, and that's my Deveriteauxth. Of High Reaches Weyr's Snowdrift wing, and currently at your service, if I've anything to tempt you with?" Her question about the bag has him slinging it gently down from his shoulder to set it on the ground, so that he can crouch beside it to undo the drawstring top. "In here, Weyrwoman, I have..." In goes his hand... and out comes a glass jar, with a creamy white substance inside it. "... a selection of my finest, newest wares. I'm a beautician when I'm not practicing for mock-Threadfall." Tempt her with? "I..." Hattie begins to try and protest before she even knows exactly what he means by that, but her own hesitation has her retreating to the safety of manners and routine, opting for, "Fort's duties to High Reaches' queens," instead, composure found once more in a matter of seconds. Only then, there it goes again, skittering away as she eyes the jar, then R'co, a ripple of confusion passing through her gaze at his chosen terminology and designation for himself. "'Wares' would suggest 'trader'," she hazards. "I'm to suppose you have an understanding with someone here at Fort?" The jar in R'co's hand is held out to Hattie, an invitation for her to take it. "And High Reaches' duties to Fort's queens, of course; I'd pass along the greetings of our weyrleaders and all, only we're a tad confused as to who they are right now." That political jibe comes with a saucy wink. "I'm... well, I suppose I am a trader of sorts, though I'm not a trader as such. I'm a Healer-trained masseuse and herbologist, Weyrwoman Hattie, and I'm here in the hopes of meeting someone who may turn out to be a distributor for the lotions and potions I make. Do have a smell of this one, even if you won't try it? It's a little on the softer side, scent-wise, but I think it's rather pleasant." Hattie fumbles as she reaches for the jar, afraid it might be destined for the ground if she doesn't accept it, cradling it like one might a small, rescued animal. "I would think," she answers darkly, "that your Acting Weyrwoman and her Weyrleader are your leaders." Nothing more than that; nothing specific. "And that you answer to your queens, regardless." She twists the lid of the jar to do as bid, even if her whole demeanour is still rather wary, and lifts it to her nose. If the fact that she doesn't immediately rear back from it can be a good sign... "I don't know if you're aware that we have a separate bathing complex in addition to our hot springs? Some private sales of such things are made through there." "The politics are... fuzzy, Weyrwoman. I'm more inclined towards those who earn the spots in the traditional manner, such as yourself and N'muir, though naturally, our Acting weyrleading duo are in charge, and we do, of course, obey our queens. Though politics is such a droll subject to speak about on a day like today!" R'co rolls his eyes, sweeping helmet-mussed blonde hair back behind his ears. "Really? A separate bathing complex, in addition to hot springs? It sounds like you're practically made for someone in my business. Would you happen to know if you've got a supplier for high-end bathing and beauty products? Of course, I was going to go discuss this now, but I'd much rather be here to talk with yourself." "Both Aishani and Azaylia have earned their roles in the traditional manner; they Impressed their queens," Hattie states in response, twisting the lid of the jar firmly back into place. "And as you assure me that you look to them, that is enough." The who of Weyrleader is left well alone, the jar offered back once she's certain that its lid is on securely. "We've a number of suppliers who provide goods in small quantities. One-man operations, which I'm assuming you are? Amongst our own weyrfolk, for the most part." The Weyrwoman glances off towards the caverns, eyes narrowing as if trying to see through rock and list possible suspects for the brownrider's meeting. "If we were to entertain the idea of yourself, there would be the matter of where you get your base materials and just where all profit is intended for." R'co nods his head, conceding to Hattie's point about the 'Reaches weyrwomen. When she offers him the jar back, he declines with a graceful shake of his hand. "Oh no, Weyrwoman. Please, keep it for yourself? And if you enjoy it, I'll be more than happy to send you another sample. That one is particularly good for softening skin; just rub it in after you've bathed." He tightens the drawstring on his bag, closing it up again. "I do this all on my one-some, naturally; this is a little sideline to massaging. Understanding complementary crafts can be such a boon, don't you think? My ingredients come from across Pern; most of the fresh herbs and so on are from either Southern or Ista, sometimes Nerat, minerals come from mineholds in Crom for the most part, and various other bits and pieces I pick up from other locations. My massage clients are equally as far-flung, though I've never been able to tap into the market here, in the Weyr." Hattie glances down at the jar, then quickly back up to R'co, her hands tightening unnecessarily to make sure for a last time that the lid is well and truly secure. Will she ever manage to prise it off again? "...Thank you," she says, more than a little awkwardly. "And from that, I'm to understand that you're not drawing on your Weyr's resources to make your products? And therefore it cannot take a cut of your profit as payment for its support?" Well aware of just how petty or picky she's sounding, she holds up a pacifying hand, palm up. "To be clear. What we take from our own depends on what we give them. I can permit us to do business with a person, but not a Weyr." "I can assure you, Weyrwoman, that the only thing I take from my Weyr for my business is a few pots of earth in the greenhouse, where I grow some of the harder-to-find plants. Otherwise, this is entirely my enterprise, with the only profit the Weyr sees coming through my transactions within the Snowasis." R'co gives her his best reassuring smile, leaning slightly towards her. "If it might assure you some, Weyrwoman Hattie, I'd love to schedule you in for a treatment sometime? A massage, a facial, perhaps? Manicure, pedicure? All of the above?" He leans towards her and Hattie inches backwards the tiniest bit, meaning to reclaim a little more of her personal space without being completely obvious. "None of the above, thank you," she quickly replies. "No offense intended, but it's all slightly too frivolous for me - and I don't have the time, besides. No use in giving a manicure to hands that are just going to end up inky and with nails chipped, anyway." She gestures one-handedly towards the caverns, supposing, "I'm sure you'll have better luck with some of our residents. If you'd consider giving up an afternoon every so often to work in the baths, you might find yourself a steady block of business." If the backing-up bothers him at all, R'co doesn't let on. He continues to smile politely, tucking back stray blonde hair once again behind his ear. "That's an awful shame, Weyrwoman Hattie. While I can understand the practicalities of not having a manicure, I would recommend indulging in a massage every now and again. They do wonders for the mind and body." Her proposition has him thinking for a moment, lips pursed in contemplation. "Well, I wouldn't work in those circumstances ordinarily, however it does have a certain appeal. Of course, I'll need to check my wing's scheduling and so on, to be sure it's actually possible..." But the idea definitely appeals to him! "Not for mine, I fear," Hattie answers as kindly as she possibly can. At least not when by men she doesn't know. "We'd have to see if we can come to agreement about your products first, of course," she stipulates. "And see if they sell. I've no wish to cause a diplomatic incident over your selling any goods or being permitted to do any work here - you are a 'Reachian rider first and foremost." Or so he is in her eyes. "And a stranger. We don't know if we can trust you yet." Said with a smile (or is that a smirk?) that might be meant to ease any potential sting to her words, or make it all the worse. "I'll let you get to your meeting. I'm sure we'll meet again. My regards to Weyrwoman Aishani and Azaylia." "Fair enough, Weyrwoman Hattie, fair enough, though I'd be happy to have written recommendations sent to you from some of my more prominent clients, if it would help reassure you? And, naturally, I'll be leaving samples with me here today," R'co tugs the handle of his bag so that the bottles inside clink off one another, "so that there'll be some for your residents to sample. If there's anything in particular that you'd care for, please feel free to have your Elaruth ask my Deveriteauxth. He's a darling, she may enjoy talking to him." The brownrider grins, offering Hattie a salute along with his farewell. "I'm quite sure we'll meet again, Weyrwoman, and I'll pass on your regards to our goldriders. Have a lovely morning, won't you?" The bag is hoisted up and slung over his shoulder, and with a parting wink R'co continues on over to the living cavern. |
Comments
Azaylia (Dragonshy (talk)) left a comment on Sat, 04 May 2013 10:47:52 GMT.
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R'co, making Pern beautiful, one person at a time~ Even Fort isn't safe from his efforts. XD I like how he toes the line of insulting when talking about HRW's leadership situation. It's amusing!
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