Logs:Protection
| |
|---|
| |
| RL Date: 11 August, 2013 |
| Who: Aishani, Jo |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Aishani and Jo make plans to offer aid and 'protection' to the criminal element in the High Reaches Area, for a percentage, of course. |
| Where: Jo's HideOut Weyr, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 28, Month 6, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Z'ian/Mentions, Sabella/Mentions, Sybile/Mentions, Canie/Mentions, Ienavi/Mentions, Kaitlyn/Mentions, M'ron/Mentions, Taikrin/Mentions |
  |
| Jo's HideOut Weyr, High Reaches Weyr With the rock being a burnished grey, the inner portion of the weyr appears almost cavernous when it's not. Past the heavy deep blue drapery that separates weyr from ledge, the sunken floor looks polished smooth, as if it has been blown like glass. Few cracks marr its surface, giving it a nice contrast to the slightly rocky walls. The backmost wall has niches carved deeply into them, giving way to empty shelves and holders. Whatever's left belongs to the very large map that depicts in sheer detail the whole area and mountains of the High Reaches, including its holds, crafts, and the position of the Weyr. The leftmost wall is riddled with hollowed-out crates turned sideways, giving the impression of a vintner's wall of wine. Very little of the bottles can be seen, giving the area a very desolate feel. A light-weight, deep brown desk takes up space before the large map with a stack of blank hides, writing stylus and a glow basket to top it. The large white-sheet bed was pushed to the rightmost wall along with some shelving. A rug occupies this portion of the floor, along with a painting depicting a wintry landscape hung up on the wall. At the foot of the bed are three tool hangers sticking out of the wall, currently being used by a worn-looking riding jacket, riding straps, and a riding helmet. It's a decently warm summer evening, which usually sees one blue pair nowhere near the Weyr and their weyr this early, but Tacuseth is indeed present. The curtain is tide back to indicate that Jo is home, the faint light of the glows within illuminating a part of the ledge outside of her movement. The scratched up blue dragon is on his usual vigilance, looking hard to the skies as if expecting trouble, likely well in deep communication with his rider. Iesaryth doesn't reach out with the salt-water wash of her mind, but instead circles past the blue's ledge on her way in from where ever she and her rider have been -- not quite as often out of Weyr as the blue and his, but often enough now that things are 'settled'. When she sees Tacuseth, there's a pleasant rumble that warns of her impending landing, taking another wide arc to give him time to prepare. Aishani gives the blue a lazy salute from atop the gold as they land. Tacuseth scoots immediately to make room for one large gold - either Iesaryth is always expected or he's just quick to allow anyone to drop in on his riding lady - and so, by the time they land from having giving them time, Jo can be seen in guard-like cargo shorts and a sleeveless tank, leaning up against the entrance from the ledge into her weyr. A welcoming and pleased smile could possibly be seen on her face as they land, with the shadowy touch of her dragon sending the boisterous greet from them both. Her hair and skin looks damp like she had just taken a bath down below, especially since the usually wild hair is currently sticking down flat to her skin. "Hey!" Iesaryth's gratitude is warm and immediate as always, especially since she knows precisely how much space she takes up, how much Tacuseth might have to scoot. She shifts to allow the vigilant blue his view of the skies, curling her tail tightly around herself as she watches from behind. She too likes to see who goes where and when. As her rider dismounts, she's wielding a flashy-looking bottle in one hand, holding it out for Jo's inspection. "Look what I brought," Aishani lilts. "I thought it might be about time to make some plans. With drinks, obviously." As the two dragons watch the skies together in content, Jo's face picks up at the sight of a bottle. "Ya know the way into my heart, Shani," she vows, a hand going to her chest as she straightens up. "Well. Ya'n Zach both. Come on in and we'll have a crack at it." And of course, at hearing there's plans to be made as she turns and leads them into the weyr, "Sounds like a party," she drawls, already heading in the direction of glasses. This is to be a somewhat civilized affair, it looks. "I'm down. First'n foremost, though," and there she pauses, turning with two glasses in hand to face the goldrider. "How ya been, since...?" The flight, but she doesn't need to add that. "I was gonna stop by myself and check ya out, but Kimren's been needy pain these days." One of her bosses, which she seems at ease to even mention. With a faint smirk, "If that's all it takes, it'd be more than him and I, yes?" Aishani still seems amused as she follows Jo inside, telling her, "I was here and there and picked this up from my family, of all people. Business is getting better, which is good for them and for me. Or my peace of mind at the very least." She'll admit that to the bluerider, though as she puts the bottle down on the table, looks at it for a long moment. Oddly, it's easier to answer the question that trails off; she looks up and offers a flash of a grin. "It's not my problem, and we'll see if it goes any better for them that it did for me," she says, in a tone that seems to think that unlikely. "And that's unfortunate. I hope there'll still be time for our side project?" She glances to the map, brows arched. Laughing, "Yeah, ya got that right," Jo has to admit on the first as she moves about. "It's good yer family's gettin' back on track though. How are they hangin'?" The glasses get set down with the bottle, and she reaches for the bottle now right when Aishani answers her question. She gives her a considering look for a moment before she nods, popping the cork and pouring its contents into the first glass. "I was out when the flight was realized," she admits to that with a look. "Took a good day of some shock, but, I came around to the idea. A bit dangerous, someone like me bein' with a Weyrleader though," she admits matter-of-factly as she straightens and gives the first filled glass over to her. "Not that it changes anythin'. For him and I. For you and I. I tend to enjoy takin' risks. Folks'll calm down now that there's faces they want to see about, and give us the chance to get what we need done." Eyes cut towards her map wall right then as she adds, "Unfortunate, yes. It's no secret that I rather you. We have an understandin', but, since it's been decided, I'd say that no one's gonna be lookin' at the activities of one mere goldrider and a bluerider that's gone more than not, hm?" Surely. The crooked smirk she now sends her says it all. "As in, there's plenty of time. Whatcha got in mind?" "They're not bad. Moving around, starting some good trade, getting in touch with some of the families they used to work with. For turns, they didn't want to take the risk." Aishani has a little shrug for that, the disconnections and reconnections that come over time, as she drops into a seat and leans on the table with weary elegance. With an arch of fine brows, "I imagine it took some getting used to, the idea. And you've managed to keep yourself out of trouble around power so far... It all depends on how much the Weyrleader cares about what you do in your off-time. My hope is not very much." As she takes the glass, she'll lift it in toast to that, taking a drink as she grins over at Jo. "I imagine there'll be some chaos soon enough... Lady Nabol's gone missing, don't you know? But it's not our problem, simply our opportunity of which to take advantage. And let's hope that too, hm?" With a mirror of that smirk, the goldrider flicks dark hair back over her shoulders before looking up at the map again. "I think we should implement a plan that involves as little work for us and ours as possible. How much do you know about who handles the business we're in across the High Reaches area?" Jo takes up her own glass and settles down once Aishani does, nodding on the account of her family. "On their to bein' self-sufficient again?" she drops, leaning back and crossing her legs. "That's good. I dunno when my bosses will answer on them. Their eyes seem to be turned elsewhere at the moment with little time for anythin' else. They haven' been all that needy in havin' us around, either, lately." On the Weyrleader and his interests in her off-time, she gives a cross between a nod and headshake as she says, "It's a gift. It's like flyin' too close to the sun. Zach doesn' ask all that much what I do, and, I imagine he'll be far too busy right now with settlin' down to look. For now. So long as there's no mistakes bein' made to catch the attention of any Weyrleader..." Really. Jo gives her that look, matching that toast before she drinks. Her lips take on a serious line upon hearing about Lady Nabol, the bluerder nodding once. "Yeah, heard 'bout that," she says. "Does feel like an opportunity, there. Depends on what exactly are we lookin' to do, this business," she now answers, looking towards the map with furrowed brows. "I'm familiar with most, thanks to the people I work for. Ain' many. Every now and then, the names change and I keep track just in case." Aishani can agree with a nod, "It is good. I'm not sure how close they are to not needing my help, say, but it's certainly better than it was -- between us as well." The glance she gives Jo is significant despite the few words she wastes on the reconciliation. It means a lot. As for Weyrleaders, the darker woman snorts softly, shaking her head. "I have very little interest in any undue attention at this point. There's a few things that might come up... and there's Iesaryth to go up at some point yet, but aside from that..." She's content to make her plans over drinks, to avoid politics. Or so she says right now. Warming to her subject and idea both, Jo's answer brings a brilliant smile. "I thought so. What I was thinking is we go to these people and tell them that we're 'offering' our services. We can be sure that there's less attention paid to their movements, they've help getting cargo and messages around, protection if they need it. What's better than a dragon for that? In exchange, we only require a percentage of business." A pause. "It's a remarkably good deal even if you don't include the trader contacts." Jo takes in that significant glance, nodding a few times as she studies the goldrider. "Better," she echoes in agreement. Leaning forward then towards her on the subject of the new Weyrleaders, "Look, I think we're in a really good position right now," she tells her in earnest. "Ain' no one lookin' our way, which is what we want. We can keep it that way. Sure, Iesaryth has to go up eventually, but even so..." Even so, she's shrugging. "We can make this work. Whatever you can' do, I can. Whatever I can' do, you can. What ya propose, that can work," she goes on to say now after a pause of consideration. "Kimren may even be interested in a deal like that. He's always lookin' for more dragonriders to help pull in his cargo, or to cart packages off Between." There's a look going in Aishani's direction that suggests the packages aren' exactly hard surface items. She looks to the map now as she asks, "So how do ya wanna approach them? How much involved do we want to look, or do we want someone else meetin' with them one by one? Feelin' them out?" "More work would help," Aishani can allow after a drink, and she's under no illusions about the work the Vijays might be doing under guise of trading. Jo's earnest explanation makes sense to her, it's there in dark eyes, but still -- there's something grudging there about her nod. "It'll be good to have something that... takes up that space, though. It's not the same." A pause before reflectively, "I was meant to be head of my family. It's difficult for me to step back." Even if it's to step up in another sense. Looking across the table with a quick smile, "We can. I know. And I'm glad you think so. Some may object, but I think there are ways to do some convincing. Preferably non-threatening ways, but..." She shrugs. These things do happen. "Mm. It would be ideal to be less involved, but it's difficult to make these initial deals through intermediaries. I'm not sure who I'd trust to do it." "I can see it," Jo gives fondly on Aishani being at the head of her clan, reaching for the bottle for a refill. "Shit, ya'd be brilliant, too. I can imagine what that's like. Not that I was meant to be head of anythin' myself, but still. One wonders how long one could be Weyrwoman, ya know? I was already told that the Reaches seems to have a hard time holdin' onto either of their leaders." Back to business though, the ex-con frowning as she considers the current situation of meeting with those denizens of the Reaches. "I don' see why I and my group can' meet up with them. Ya know. Kait and M'ron," she says slowly, looking from the map to the goldrider's face. "I hardly wear the knot, and some of them know me through some old deals made. I mean, they'll know this will have ties to the Weyr, with the offer to use dragonriders and all, but..." and she gives a shrug to that. "Some will definitely object on the business percentage side, or try to trip us up. I wouldn' put it past them to. Actually," and she passes the bottle on now that glass is full again to drink, "what do ya think about Sybile, blue Miroth's, one of the ones from the last weyrlin' class? She's clever and wily enough. Somethin' like this might be up her path. Sabs, too, now that I think of it." "Reaches does seem to at that," Aishani notes wryly. "Perhaps nothing bad will happen this time." But even that thin optimism doesn't quite ring true from her; the goldrider never really does look on the brighter side. Glancing from the map to Jo, "I like that, for a start. Through the old contacts. Those will be the easier deals; let the others hold out or come to us. I want to be handling this." There's frustration there, brief, but it passes when she tells Jo, "I've kept up my relations with the Holds. The relations I have, some are obviously better than others. When it comes to them looking the other way, I'm sure we can manage something there. And if discussions have to go further, I suppose we can both speak to them. It's better for me to keep out of it, to handle things here, with the Holds and the crafters if need be." She's almost convincing herself, but after a drink, she can consider the two younger riders. "If you think they'd do a good job, I can see it. See how they do." It's amusing to Jo, that. She looks out towards the ledge as she says, "I'll keep Zach safe, though, I'd imagine he won' need it. He's not Taikrin." Beat. "We'll start with the old contacts then," and she turns back to regard Aishani then, nodding. "I'll draw up a list for ya, though, it's a short one. I know for a fact that there's Aiven still operatin' close to Keogh," her old home, "and it's been a good while since I've been out that way since the queens went up. Maybe we can start with him. He's good with the guards, mostly." Hearing that she has good relations with the holds gives her a positive look in response, knocking back almost half of her drink in two swallows. "I'd rather ya stay here, too, but if we must make an appearance," she says with a sigh, looking from her to the map. "We'll do what we must. We still need to gather together some riders for this, too. I can get some onboard easy, but dependin', we may need more. I trust Syb, and Sabs," she says now, looking at her. "They're one of us. Canie, too, but ya know that already. I wouldn' put her name forth, though, cuz she has a penchant for stealin' at random. She's not all that good at diplomacy either, but she's the more amendable one out of the three. I'll talk to them and see what's good," she decides to say, briefly raising her glass to her. "Maybe even sweeten the job with some payment." With another one of her quiet snorts, "Who is." Aishani does have a point. "And a short list is a start. I need to look in on my family about a few things, perhaps I'll see what they've heard, if much of anything. It could be helpful, even if their routes aren't the most... populated ones usually? Gossip still travels." There's a wry smirk for that, for good and for ill. "And I wouldn't rather, but it makes sense." Wrinkling her nose for missing out on the meetings in gross bars, "If you want to front them some, I don't mind that. The payment will come soon enough once the clients are lined up. Once they're lined up, we can see how many riders we need." She'll clink her glass with the bluerider's raised one, grinning before drinking. "To business. Let's hope it's that easy." There's quiet laughter to that first, and she nods on the short list, seeming to have made a mental note of it. "I can check some of the local bars, too. The Rusty Nail's always got some tidbits whenever I get there. I don' think the pay will be necessary," she adds on paying the riders in particular now, "but, just in case. Sometimes Syb can get that way. We can stick to the more prominent sorts, too. They'll have the pay. The other ones thinkin' to start out won'." Their glasses clink right then, her smile one of anticipation for their business venturing realized as she says, "Indeed, darlin'. Let's hope that it's risk-free, too." She'll drink to that, draining the rest of her glass before she reaches for the bottle and asks, "More?" Booze and plotting. That seems to be her version of a perfect girls' night. "No, I don't want to be starting someone's operation. And please." Aishani sets her glass down for a refill, flicking her fingers that way before looking up at the map again. "You know, sweeps could be useful for keeping an eye on what we know is going on out there, if we had a pair in every wing minimum..." If Jo's evening is made by plotting, the goldrider is certainly full of ideas. (And the whiskey's not bad either.) |
Leave A Comment