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* Jewel sits in the elaborate iron cage of her showroom, reading a book. The weather has been on the grey and rainy side, and business has been slow today. In Angel's usual place against the curtains stands a bored, muscular-looking woman with black hair pulled severely back from her face, and wearing dark clothes. * Ink enters, an oilskin-wrapped portfolio under her arm. She glances at the bodyguard only briefly enough to ascertain which it is before approaching Jewel's counter, greeting her with a faint smile and the Guild recognition sign. * Jewel looks up from her book as the door tinkles, quickly slipping it away under the counter and sitting up. She relaxes a little when she sees who it is, returning the recognition sign with a broad smile. "Ink! It's good to see you. How's Smudge?" <Ink> Grown another two inches in the last month. She's going to break me, buying clothes. ::smiles a little wider:: But she's getting better every day. She did some of the detail work on your certificates of ownership, here. * Ink unwraps her portfolio and extracts several forged certificates and one bill of sale, sliding them across the counter for Jewel's approval. <Jewel> ::grins:: You'll just have to raise your fee. With the work you do, you could certainly get away with it. ::pulls the certificates towards her, touching them by the edges, and leans over them to examine them closely. After a few moments, she looks up again, shaking her head with admiration:: The foreign seals on this one weren't a problem? <Ink> You're paying for it, trust me. <Jewel> ::snorts and grins:: If I didn't trust you, would I be hiring you? <Jewel> ::shrugs one shoulder:: Price of doing business for putting "Imports" on that sign out there. <Ink> I should hope not. That's two-fifty for the lot. It would be more, mind, but my apprentice did some of it. And, well, I like a challenge. ::smiles thinly again:: <Jewel> ::nods:: Fair. Just a moment. ::slips off her stool and disappears through the curtains on the back wall, returning a minute later with a clinking bag and a small, slim box. She sets both down on the counter in front of Ink and nods to the box with a smile:: Open it. <Ink> ::raises an eyebrow and wipes her ink-stained fingers self-consciously on her skirts before picking up the box and opening it carefully:: * Ink removes the smaller wooden box within, and opens that as well. "Ohh, Jewel, this is beautiful." She lifts out a calligraphy brush and tests its bristles with one finger. "It's in excellent condition." <Jewel> ::nods:: The original owner cared for them well. I got it in a jumble of things from a sailing master's estate. Without a recognizable chop it's pretty useless as an antique, but I figured it would be perfect for your line of work. <Ink> ::looks at Jewel in surprise:: You came by this *legitimately*? How very astonishing. ::She lifts out the chop and examines its ground-down end:: Yes, I can probably make something of this... Thank you. <Jewel> ::looking slightly affronted, drawing herself up:: *I* am a legitimate businesswoman, madam, and I am offended, truly outraged at your suggestion that I might be otherwise! ::relaxes and grins:: Besides, I'm happy dealing with the sea-folk, and they're happy dealing with me. Further abroad the stuff goes, the less traceable it is. <Jewel> The box, tho... it's quality, but the kind of quality only someone who uses the stuff would recognize. It's not pretty enough to put on display, so it wouldn't bring enough to be worth it to me. ::blushes slightly:: Still... don't tell Dawn where you got it, eh? <Ink> ::smirks knowingly:: Not *that* legitimate, hmm? Don't worry, he doesn't come 'round to my place very often, and I doubt he'd know what he was looking at if he did see it. ::hesitates:: Speaking of which... Will you see him anytime soon, do you think? <Jewel> ::looks wry:: I think I'm still a little too sheepish for his peace of mind. But yes, I see him around pretty often. The Boys like to keep tabs on the merry widow. * Jewel keeps her face guileless. <Ink> ::blinks, then decides she really must examine the calligraphy set again:: <Ink> I don't see them very often at all, really. Could you pass on a message for me? * Jewel glances over her shoulder as her bodyguard shifts feet and glances at her. She smiles sweetly, biting her lip to restrain a laugh, and continues in a level voice to get Ink's attention again. "Message?" <Ink> Yes... Tell him, please, that I think I've placed Horn. <Jewel> ::raises her eyebrows:: Oh? <Ink> He's Sembian. <Jewel> ::hikes her eyebrows higher:: Oh! <Ink> ::draws a breath, not quite meeting Jewel's eyes:: And I think he was here before. But I couldn't swear to that. <Jewel> Hmm. ::frowning:: I-- hmm. I don't know how to ask this. Feel free not to answer, if you wish, but... have you lived in Marsember a long time, Ink? <Ink> My whole life. <Jewel> Hm. ::frowns and rubs her chin:: A friend of mine thought he looked familiar, too... another long-time Marsember resident. ::looks up again:: You've seen him, then? Horn? <Ink> ::nods:: He was... pointed out to me. By one of Smudge's friends. <Jewel> ::scowls:: One of the Children, you mean. ::sighs:: Well... I'll pass it on. Anything else? <Ink> ::glances around the room nervously:: You must understand, Jewel, in my line of work, attention to the most minor details is essential. Master Horn has a tattoo on his arm that I *believe* means that he is, or was, part of a mercenary unit that is based in Sembia. <Jewel> ::puts a reassuring hand on Ink's:: It's alright, Ink. Unless it's someone much better than Bie, no one gets in here without me at least knowing it. Mercenaries.... Is it... ::bites her lip:: When you say "before"... Ink, do you mean, um, recently? <Ink> Yes, recently. I don't think I've seen *him* before. I don't know if he was here last summer, for certain. But that mercenary unit was. <Jewel> ::nods slowly, thinking:: And if he was... maybe that's when they got the idea that there was an... open market, here. <Ink> ::nods:: We were-- I understand we were *very* far under cover, then. <Jewel> ::her eyes pained:: Yes. <Ink> ::nods again:: Anyway, I heard there might be a reward, for useful information. And I know you wouldn't try to cheat me, so... <Jewel> ::nods:: They'll know where the information came from, I promise you that. ::quirking up a corner of her mouth:: Honor among thieves aside, I couldn't afford to lose your services. <Jewel> Speaking of... would you feel better if you had a little extra protection around, just in case? <Ink> ::shakes her head decisively:: No. It would only draw attention to me. We'll be fine. <Jewel> Alright. ::smiling wryly:: I'll talk Dawn out of it, then. <Ink> Why should he-- No, I don't want anyone around. Smudge and I will be fine. <Jewel> ::frankly but gently, meeting Ink's eyes:: I think Dawn feels guilty about you. That he let you down, last summer. <Ink> ::looks surprised:: I already told him, there was nothing he could do. <Jewel> ::mouth twisting:: Aye, I know. There was little enough *any* of us could do. Doesn't keep us from hashing over it, on sleepless nights. <Jewel> Not that he wouldn't die before he said anything to anyone, I'm sure, but... ::shrugs:: <Ink> Nor me, either, but there's no call for *them* to be- ::shakes her head:: I've been paid. <Jewel> ::shrugs and grins:: Responsibility's a bitch, I'm told. Glad enough I don't have any. <Ink> Ha. Me, too. I'd best be going. Pass on the information, and thanks again for the brush set. <Jewel> Will do, and you're most welcome. Good day to you, Ink. <Ink> Good day. |
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