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* Jewel's shop lies in a somewhat gentrified section of the waterfront. The scent of salt and fish is still strong here, but many of the warehouses have been fixed up into shops and lofts, and the occasional new tree attempts to make things more civilized. <Jewel> ::About half of one of the warehouses serves as her shopfront; the rest appears to be serving its original function. The exterior is plain, but has been given a fresh coat of rustic red paint, and a small gilt-and black lettered sign hangs over the human-sized door.:: <Jewel> ::The sign, on closer inspection, reads "Harborside Imports & Estate Rescue." Inside is a different look entirely. The vast spaces of the warehouse have been partitioned by antique screens, hanging carpets, looming pieces of ancient walnut furniture, and what-have-you. Antiques are displayed on some of the higher shelves. The overall effect is of old, slightly exotic opulence and taste.:: <Jewel> ::An ironwork screen with a lockable door divides the display area from the sales area, where Jewel sits on a high stool behind the counter. Cases of jewelry displayed on velvet hang behind her. Were it not for his pale hair, Angel would probably blend in entirely into the dark velvet curtains hanging along the back wall:: * Horn is a small, slightly grungy man of indistinct age. He has no beard, but is in need of a shave; his brown hair is clipped short. He has broad shoulders and a scar that starts on his cheek and runs down into his simple, homespun shirt. He enters the shop carrying a canvas bag with some interesting bulges, and stops inside the door to look around. * Angel leans against the curtains, the very picture of boredom, except for his quick eyes which stare penetratingly at each new entrant to the shop. * Jewel glances up briefly as Horn enters, taking a moment to study him (and his bag) as he looks around. She drops her head to her work again after a moment, polishing a brooch with a silver rag. <Horn> ::His eyes move from shadow to shadow, and do not neglect the ceiling. To Angel's experienced eye, he moves like a fighter of long experience. It is almost shocking to note that no sword hangs at his belt. After a long moment, he approaches the counter. "Good day, madame." His voice is gravelly, and bears the faintest hint of some accent. * Jewel sets her work aside quickly as he approaches and gives him a polite nod. "Good day to you, sir. How might I be of service today?" * Horn sets his bag on the counter, but does not open it. "I understand that you buy items of value, yes?" <Jewel> ::smiles:: I do, upon occasion, help friends find new homes for heirlooms they've been forced to part with, aye. * Horn removes an ornate silver candlestick from his bag. It is in dire need of polishing, but promises to be quite stunning once cleaned. "As it happens, I've a few things to sell." * Angel casually rubs his shoulders, as if settling a slight itch. <Horn> ::As he is removing the candlestick, it can be seen that he is missing the last two fingers of his left hand, the scars there still livid enough that the injury must be only a year or two old.:: * Jewel doesn't even glance at her bodyguard as she studies the piece for a moment, her hands still folded in her lap. "That is quite a lovely piece. But as I said, I have to be careful who I purchase from. Have you a reference of some sort?" <Horn> ::sadly:: Reference, madame? I fear you find me empty-handed... A lady gave me your address, but I do not have her name. <Jewel> Hmm... a pity. Well, perhaps we can come to some agreement. Would you mind if I inspected the piece a little more closely? ::nodding to the candlestick:: <Horn> But of course. * Jewel reaches under the counter to retrieve a jeweller's loupe, putting it in her eye and giving her bodyguard a quick glance before reaching for the candlestick. <Jewel> ::sending a thought to her bodyguard along with the glance:: {My lord, is his face familiar to you at all?} * Jewel picks up the candlestick, testing its weight in her hands for a few moments before turning it over and giving the underside a careful inspection, looking for a maker's mark or any other identifying insignia. * Horn follows Jewel's glance toward Angel, and he gives the silent man a quick but professional appraisal before looking back at Jewel. <Angel> {Maybe once, long ago. I am not certain, my lady.} * Jewel retrieves her polishing cloth and carefully polishes a small corner of the candlestick, testing how long the patina of age has sat on it. She frowns slightly as she works. <Horn> ::anxiously:: Is there a problem, madame? * Jewel stretches her neck and sets the candlestick down again carefully, within easy reach of her customer. "It is quite lovely, and very old. But it appears to be part of a set. Have you the rest?" <Horn> A set? No, madame, I fear I-- I was unaware of this circumstance. I do have some other pieces, if you cannot accept the candlestick... * Angel gives the decided impression of getting ready to sleep on his feet. <Jewel> ::smiles disarmingly:: It's a shame, so many family sets are broken up in squabbles between heirs. I would like to see what else you have, if you'd permit? * Horn takes a ring from his bag and places it on the cloth. Unlike the candlestick, it seems fairly new. It is gold set with diamonds and an emerald. <Jewel> ::glances at him for permission again before picking it up for closer study, closing her off eye to better concentrate on the image through the loupe:: <Jewel> It's also beautiful piece... not as old, certainly, but I can think of some buyers who might be interested. ::glances with interest at his bag:: I think... yes, I'd be willing to make you an offer on these. Have you anything else you'd like to sell, as well? <Horn> ::considers, then shakes his head:: Not just today, madame... I would not wish to... glut the market, as they say. ::he smiles slightly:: <Jewel> ::smiles:: I understand. ::cocks her head to the side, studying the pieces again for a moment:: Let's see... I can offer... ::cocks head:: 15 gold on the candlestick, and 60 gold on the ring. <Horn> Surely the candlestick is worth at least fifty, madame... And the ring, two hundred! * Angel startles slightly, as if awakened from a doze and pulls himself straighter. <Jewel> ::shakes her head regretfully:: The candlestick is of a distinctive pattern and very well made, but the set is broken up. And the ring is lovely, but not an exceptional piece. And given the lack of provenance... I might go up to, say, ninety on both? <Horn> One hundred. * Angel yawns. <Jewel> Done. ::smiles:: Just a moment, please. ::gives her yawning bodyguard a small frown as she disappears through a curtain into a back room, returning in a few moments with a faintly clinking cloth pouch:: * Horn eyes Angel guardedly while Jewel is out of the room. * Jewel places the pouch on the counter, inviting Horn to open it with a wave. "Should you have any other pieces you're interested in selling, I'd be interested in seeing them." * Horn picks up the pouch and opens it, then nods and tucks it into his belt. "You are most generous, madame. I will, I think, return. And may I... refer certain associates? <Jewel> ::nods cordially:: You may. May I have your name, sir, so that I'll know them when they speak to me? <Horn> ::considers, after another quick glance at Angel:: I am known as Horn, madame. * Angel shows only the slightest bit of interest at Horn's scrutiny. <Jewel> ::smiles:: Very well, Master Horn. I'm Jewel. I look forward to seeing you again. * Jewel picks up the candlestick, her thumb protruding slightly from between her first two fingers as she closes her hand. She gives him a polite head-bow. <Horn> ::half-bows:: To a profitable relationship, madame. ::he picks up his bag and nods to Angel before heading for the door:: * Angel watches as the man leaves, one eyebrow raising only the tiniest fraction. * Jewel waits for the door to close before glancing over at her bodyguard. "I think I'd like to call on a few friends for lunch. He certainly wasn't from around here, but I suspect these are." She nods to the swag on the counter. * Jewel stows the candlestick in the safe behind her, but keeps the ring out, intending to bring it with her to Dawn's. <Angel> ::nods slowly:: I concur, my lady. If you might think about a certain lady friend of ours, she surely can contact them with less suspicion, in case we are being watched. <Jewel> True... ::smiles a little:: Tho' I suspect this sort of thing still gives her the willies... ::her eyes glaze over a little as she seeks gentle contact with Bie:: <Angel> Less than others, my lady. <Jewel> {Bienca, love, it's Jewel. Could you get Dawn and Dusk to pop by for a visit? I feel the urge to gossip with them a bit.} <Dawn> ::The shop door opens shortly to reveal Dawn, apparently alone. He does not slam the door shut behind him, but something in his stance leaves the impression that he would *like* to. Instead, he sets out Cat's "Closed" sign and carefully locks the door before he stamps angrily across the floor toward the counter.:: <Jewel> ::raises her eyebrows a little:: Good afternoon, Dawn, always a pleasure to see you? ::her voice lifts a little at the end of the sentence, ending it on an uncertain note:: <Dawn> ::He snarls as he reaches the counter, seeking Angel's gaze:: There's competition. <Jewel> ::surprised:: I was just about to tell *you* that. In fact, I think I just met him. * Angel relaxes out of his "negligent" posture, which for him actually means looking more alert. "Tell me." <Jewel> ::nods to Dawn to go first:: <Dawn> "Him?" I hardly think one man alone is qualified to run a protection racket. ::to Angel:: About three streets beyond our tightest control, where Nail and them live? There's a bunch o' smugglers who hole up that way. They're not ours, but they're small-time, stay out of our way, sometimes do us a favor... They got charged insurance, refused to pay, and the guy sicced a fuckin' huge damn *dog* on 'em! Killed three and tore five more up so bad-- ::shakes his head:: <Angel> ::his eyebrow goes up:: That's stupid. Any lizard activity? <Dawn> ::growls:: Of course. They had that dark-skinned Heroboy Bie's got the hots for down here, tearing up the cobblestones looking for clues. Dunno if he got anything. <Angel> Fuck. ::looks flatly annoyed:: What did you get? Any descriptions? <Dawn> And one of the Children was... approached. ::his eyes practically glow with fury:: It's a group of 'em, four at least, maybe more. They're looking to set up shop here, Angel. We're going to have a fucking turf war on our hands. <Jewel> ::nods towards her door:: The gentleman who just left here wasn't acting for himself. Either he's a fence himself, or he's acting for his bullyboys. <Dawn> He was one of 'em? Fuck, I was waiting in the alley for him to leave! I could've put a knife in his ribs if I'd known! <Angel> ::shakes his head:: That's not certain, my lady, only suspicious. But we can have him watched, in case. <Dawn> ::nods:: I'll put Monkey on him. <Jewel> ::presses her lips together:: Ordinarily I wouldn't have touched his stuff... sent him over to the Island with it, more like. ::glances at Dawn:: It's just as well you didn't, though. I'm letting him refer his friends to me. ::grins coldly:: <Dawn> ::grins at Jewel:: Good girl! * Angel looks just the slightest bit proud. "She's a quick study. Her first teacher must have had an influence on her." <Dawn> ::snorts:: That one is too careful to make another thief by *accident*. <Jewel> I *know* the ring is hot. *Very* hot. I could still feel the woman's fear on it. ::shudders:: Dawn, would you be so kind as to take it with you? Sell it wherever you care to, I don't care. I don't want it in my place if it *is* a setup. ::sighs:: Though I'd just as soon give it back to that girl.... <Dawn> ::snatches up the ring before Jewel can decide it has to be returned to its rightful owner:: I'll find it a home. <Jewel> ::wrinkles her nose at Angel:: And I keep telling you, Lady Quick didn't teach me *that* part of her trade:: <Angel> ::gives a quick flash of smile:: Perhaps not. <Jewel> ::smiles fondly:: I learned all my dastardly sneakiness from my husband. <Dawn> ::eyeing the ring:: You didn't get any kind of image from this, did you? I'd like to know more faces... * Angel watches them for a moment, then moves to the safe and does a quick check of its contents. "Hmm." <Jewel> ::shakes her head:: Not much of anything, I'm afraid. His face was covered with a black scarf. I know it wasn't our gentleman, though-- too tall, and narrower through the shoulders. <Jewel> ::shrugs:: I can tell you better what the original owner looked like, but I don't think she got a good look at him, either. Unless it was after the ring was parted from her. <Dawn> Hrmph. Keep your eyes open, then. The one who tried to recruit Jacob was a woman. <Jewel> ::nods, and looks uncertainly between Angel and Dawn:: Should I keep buying from them? Do you think they know Marsember's already, um, occupied? * Angel sifts through the safe for a moment and puts together a small sack of coins. "Here." He tosses the bag to Dawn. "Get that to the survivors. And arrange some muscle to 'hang out' over there. They're not ours, but we don't want them to end up as 'theirs'." <Jewel> ::smiles a little wryly:: Taking my tithe early, boss? * Angel looks slightly embarrassed. "My capital's tied up right now." <Dawn> ::to Jewel:: Yes, keep buying. Let them try to recruit you - the more of them you meet, the easier it will be for us to nail them. I don't think they know we're here, not from the things the woman said to Jacob. <Jewel> ::grins:: Hey, I make enough to afford it. ::frowns:: Which is probably why they came to me, come to think. <Dawn> ::putting the bag into a pocket:: If their "payday" rolls around again, shall I tell 'em we'll cover it? <Jewel> Hm... and if they don't know there's organization, they can't tell anyone else to save their miserable hides... <Angel> ::nods:: I don't want any more stupid deaths. Last thing we need is this place crawling with lizards. ::shakes his head:: Damn stupid of them. <Dawn> Speaking of stupid... You ever heard of a protection racket that wants its payment every four weeks? Weekly, every other week, monthly... But four weeks? What kind of weird timetable is that? * Angel shrugs. <Dawn> ::to Jewel:: See if you can find out where they got your name. Is it coincidence, or did someone sell us out? Or tip us off? It'd be nice to know. <Jewel> Once a month? Why is that strange? Maybe they don't want to bleed them too badly. What sort of cut are they asking? <Jewel> ::nods:: I'll try, discreetly, but that could be a dead end... ::blushing faintly:: After all, I've done well enough that some, um, sheep come see me, too. <Dawn> No, *not* once a month. A month is longer than four weeks. That's why it's odd. <Jewel> Oh. ::frowns:: That *is* odd. <Dawn> And I'd be worried if you had no sheep coming through your doors. A fence *should* have some legitimate business. <Jewel> Well, of course, but... well, the invasion was good for *my* business, at least. <Dawn> ::eyes Angel:: Should we set up some commissions? Or do you want to wait and see if we can do this without spilling blood? You don't figure they'll politely move on if we introduce ourselves, do you? <Jewel> ::hesitantly:: We couldn't... recruit them, could we? Does it work that way? <Angel> ::tugs at a lock of hair:: You never know until you ask. If they're only taking advantage of a quiet situation, the right voice might... be able to bring them around. Although I'm not certain they'd be worth having. I don't object to a parasite, but I do object to a cut-rate one. Stupidity is not one of my favored traits. <Dawn> ::to Jewel:: Sometimes. Depends on what they want, and how power-hungry they are. <Jewel> I admit, I'm not very keen on them if they're with those dog-people. ::shudders a little:: That must've been the attack they wrote about in Herald. It didn't sound from that like it'd been... planned, though. It's sort of more horrible that way... that they'd just stand and watch *that*. <Dawn> ::snorts:: Protection is a chancy line of work. <Dawn> Mm. I wonder what kind of dog it is... No one seems to know. If it's a trained warhound, or a pit-fighter, it could be hard to take down. <Jewel> ::rubs her arms:: I think I'd rather not know, thanks. <Dawn> ::half-smiles:: That's okay. You don't have to know. But I do, and Dusk does, and Angel does. <Jewel> ::looks wry:: I'll brush up on how to treat dog bites. <Dawn> You do that. * Angel shakes his head. "If you've got time, get Fletch to train some people with crossbows. You can't fence with a dog." <Dawn> Aye, I'll talk to Fletch right after I see Monkey. <Dawn> ::leans against the counter, grumbling:: This is all we fucking need... A fucking turf war... Did someone forget his monthly donation to Tymora, that she feels the need to shit on us again? Capricious bitch. <Angel> ::snorts:: She just likes to hear your voice, Dawn. <Jewel> Well... at least we know about them, before they've had much of a chance at a foothold, yes? <Dawn> Aye. Though if they touch another one of my Children... ::scowls, then sighs:: I had to check in as soon as I knew. I haven't even told Dusk yet; I came straight from Jacob's corner... <Jewel> ::raises an eyebrow, looking around at her rafters:: So he's not lurking? <Dawn> ::smirks:: Well, you never know, but at least if he is, I'm not in on it. This time. * Angel snorts. <Jewel> Hm. ::considers, flipping her half-polished brooch over her fingers in a trick Dusk taught her:: Would it be worthwhile to make cautious inquiries in, um, other departments? I mean, finding out if they've had offers or threats of any sort? <Dawn> ::raises an eyebrow:: The loyal ones had better well fucking report anything suspicious, or I'll set their asses on fire. Did you have a specific other department in mind? <Jewel> Well... this is convoluted logic, I know, please forgive me, but... if they're loyal, they'd report it. But if someone wasn't loyal, or thought he was getting a better offer or somesuch, he might not report it. But if he found out you already *knew* about it, he *might* report it. ::frowns:: That... did make sense, didn't it? <Jewel> And... ::bites her lip:: If they're setting up a new store, they may look into some, um, departments our store hasn't been keen on supporting. <Angel> ::nods absently, his eyes far away as he thinks:: <Dawn> ::looks at Jewel with narrowed eyes, then nods:: Fuck. I'll add the Island to my list of rounds. <Jewel> ::looks worried:: I'm sorry, Dawn. <Dawn> ::shrugs:: I'm going to talk about "sorry" to anyone who lays a finger on my Children. <Dawn> ::sighs and shakes his head:: Anything else? <Angel> Do we have anyone with the lizards right now? <Dawn> Nope. Our best lizardskin died in the war, and we haven't found someone to replace him with yet. <Jewel> ::frowns:: You don't think the whole thing could be some sort of elaborate sting, do you? He looked a little military, but... not *that* much. <Angel> ::shakes his head firmly:: Dragons, much as I hate them, don't slaughter people outright. <Jewel> ::looks back at Dawn:: Dawn, does the name "Horn" mean anything to you? Angel thought he recognized him faintly, from a long time ago, but... well, you saw him leave. And he had a faint accent. Something foreign, couldn't place it. <Dawn> He didn't look familiar to me. I'll build him for Dusk later and see if he's got anything to say. What kind of accent? Could you repeat it? <Jewel> Um... ::concentrates, wrapping a hand around the pearl solitaire at her throat:: "You are most generous, madame. I am known as Horn, madame." ::opens her eyes again:: I... think that was close. * Jewel glances at Angel for confirmation. * Angel nods. "Not bad." <Dawn> Hrm. It sounds familiar. I'll think about it. <Jewel> I thank you. ::glances at Angel again:: If he has all those errands to run, we'd best not keep him much longer. Is there any other way you think I might help? <Angel> He pauses, too. As if this isn't his primary language and he's searching for the word. <Dawn> All right. I'm going. I'll check in at sundown. Let us know if you learn anything else. <Jewel> ::nods, agreement, with another small frown:: And I do wonder why he wasn't armed. Or was he armed? ::Raises an amused eyebrow at Angel:: * Angel nods. "Keep me updated." <Jewel> I will, I promise. ::smiles:: As subtly as I have to. <Angel> Two daggers that I saw. Subtle, though. Boot and sleeve. Watch it, he's left handed. <Jewel> ::grins at Dawn:: He's so good at that, isn't he? <Angel> It's what I get paid for, my lady. ::he bows with slight sarcasm:: * Dawn snorts, gives Angel a lazy salute, and leaves. * Jewel waves at the departing Dawn and sniffs at Angel. "I can still preen about my talented bodyguard if I want to." <Angel> ::one corner of his mouth twitches upwards:: Yes, my lady. <Jewel> ::more seriously:: As long as he remembers he's not biteproof. ::shakes a finger at him:: |
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