OOC NOTE: The previous post has been edited to cut out a lot of stuff that is entirely irrelevant to, and only cluttered, this thread. If your interested, it can be found
here as a vignette, but other wise has no connection this this thread.))
The Promenade CasinoAn envelope would be left under Arhchie’s room door, waiting for him to read at his leisure. It would have no markings on the envelope itself, while nothing more than a small letter would be enclosed:
Mr. Earle
It has come to our attention that your current business partners are experiencing an unfortunate number of delays and inability to meet your companies needs. I represent an interested party that like to assist your company in addressing this issue. Your business is highly appreciated here in Sudmark and we would like to ensure recent problems do not affect your long standing ventures here. Should you be interested in what my company has to offer come to the Stendal’s Café I’ll be there between 10 AM to 12 PM. Should you agree to discuss business with us, be sure to ask the clerk about the “Vinitsian Crostatas”.
Best Regards
|
***
Bruan - The Promenade Casino, Bar and lounge.When Bruan opened his eyes, he was greeted with the sight of an Elaborate pattern filling his vision. He wasn’t sure what he was looking at, but he supposed he’d woken up to worse. Now that he thought about it
everything seemed off in a way. Behind him he felt a hard surface pushing up against his back, yet the world seemed sideways. Up was not where it was supposed to be, and he couldn’t even begin to comprehend where down was. In fact, he couldn’t feel the floor at all no matter how much he kicked. The worst of it was his head. Even the slightest shift in movement caused a searing pain causing him to let out a plethora of curses in response.
“Just the man I was looking for…” A familiar voice seemingly said out of nowhere. That voice, it was familiar. Bruan had to think for a moment recalling where he heard it before. Once he’d gotten his barens a sudden pang of realization caused him to let out a few more cures. He knew that voice well enough.
“Figures…” was all Bruan managed to mumble. The voice alone was enough to sober up Bruan, enough to at least drag himself of the floor and find a stool to rest on leaning against the bar table. He then spoke again waving his hand as if to shoo off the newcomer.
“I already told you Idette, were through. No leave me be, I’ve got to sober up before work. ”
“Oh Bruany, don’t be like that. Besides it’s been…what now six, seven years? When will you let it go.” Against his wishes, Idette had made her way closer towards Bruan now leaning against the table next to him. She was similar in age to Bruan, maybe a few years younger give or take. Either way time had certainly been more kind to her then himself. Just another reason her presence annoyed him.
Let it go. The words echoed in Bruan’s mind conjuring a disapproving grunt in response.
“You can’t seriously tell me you’ve settled for dockhand work?” Idette continued, an accusatory voice elongating the word ‘seriosuly’ in a dramatic manner.
“Believe it or not, but you’ll find some people are fine with an honest living.”
“Oh? We both know that Bruan, the
real Braun, doesn’t believe that; and certainly he is not ‘Honest’.” She was right. As much as he hated to admit it She. Was Right.
“Besides you haven’t even heard my offer…”
“Unless it’s about what we discussed last time, that’ll be a hard pass for me.” Bruan having convinced himself he was sober enough to be mobile was ready to take his leave managing to stumble his way towards the lobby entrance. And so he did. Without any interruption? Usually in these instances she’d try to sway him in a multitude of ways. Over embellishing her ‘offer’, trying to guilt trip him into accepting, even using more personal means. This time though? Nothing. She just remained silent, not having moved and inch from the bar table. Which could only mean…
“So I take it that you’ve reconsider, Bruany?” A small grin tugged at the corner of Idette’s mouth, as Bruan hadn’t even realized he stopped just before the lobby entrance.
Yochlan!* He thought to himself turning to face the women and shifting uncomfortably.
“If you’re screwing with me Idette…not even the Architect*…”
“Wonderful! Now go and make yourself presentable and don’t dally, Ja? We need to be ready by nine.” Idette satisfied with Bruan’s reluctant yet silent agreement, took her leave informing him of a room pre-prepared room to be used for cleaning and preparation.
When Bruan arrived down at the Casino’s lobby, he had found Idette awaiting in the lobby, dawning her ever signature tortoise shell sunglasses. She exchanged few words with him simply commenting that Bruan’s choice of attire was ‘Acceptable enough’ before leading him to entrance of the Casino Hotel. Bruan would find a luxury car, of Heyran origin if he had to guess, awaiting them, Chauffeur in tow.
“I see even after all these years, humility has evaded you…” Bruan quipped.
“If you’ve got it, flaunt it. You know how it works, her in Brascroen.” That he did, and it cost him dearly.
“Where are we headed anyway? This gotta’ be something big if your putting this much effort into it…” Braun had broken the otherwise silence that that permeated a thick awkward haze in the vehicles back seat cabin.
“Stendal’s. There’s a high roller, foreigner, apparently his associates are none too pleased with the way their operation is being handled here… oh goodness.” Idette replied in a matter of fact tone, not once looking up from her phone, much to Braun’s annoyance, seeming to comment about something on the device after the fact.
Apparently, the Surak Volcano had become concerningly active in recent months and now scientists were warning it was becoming a worrying sign according to the news article Idette was reading. That had made Bruan recall the previous nights event’s when Walls was talking about the heavy traffic, and the rumors of increased Federal activity around the Isles.
Curious.