The Air was beginning to cool as the day’s hours led into dusk outside The Split Tumbler, a quiet tavern situated off of one of the back alleys of the main roads running through Marn’s Downtown District. The clientele were mainly local, or those looking for a particular kind of trade.
The inside of the tavern was not particularly large and had a very unkempt feel to it; the paint on the stone walls was patchy, the wooden tiled floor was beginning to rot away at the outer edges, and the thick beams holding the tavern together were notched and crooked, as if they have been salvaged from scrap rather than cut to fit the necessary measurements of the room.
An open staircase coiled its way up the left side of the wall to a second story floor which housed three separate rooms for rent. There was a cluster of tables and small chairs clotted around the middle and sides of the bar floor. The bar itself was the largest structure in the room and appeared to be better managed than the rest of the tavern. Situated in the far left corner of the room were two booths which offered a little more privacy.
Kosal sat quietly in the farthest of these booths, facing the entrance to the tavern; this was where his focus lay. His attention was suddenly drawn to the bar as he watched the barkeeper changing one of the kegs; the sickly sweet smell of liquor wafted down his nostrils.
“By the Changers, that smells good.” He thought to himself, whilst absent-mindedly running his tongue along the inside of his lips. It was taking all of Kosal’s willpower not to order himself a drink; that is what had led him into this predicament to begin with. No, this time he needed to keep a level head.
Kosal removed his large brimmed hat, setting it down on the table in front of him to reveal a set of dark locks, fastened tightly into a ponytail, the length falling just short of his shoulders. He allowed his slender fingers to play with his short trimmed goatee, a way of distracting himself from the smell and temptation.
A tavern may not have been the best choice for a meeting where Kosal’s habits were concerned, however his priority at this point was being in a location where he was at least a little safer. Kosal was a frequent trader at The Split Tumbler; the barkeeper Fueller, also the proprietor of the tavern, often bought the goods that Kosal was fencing. Although the tavern owner was not interested in Kosal’s latest acquirement, he had at least helped set up this meeting.
The tavern would not pick up for several more hours, which suited Kosal just fine. At present there were very few customers and only one other member of staff besides Fueller; a bouncer, little more than a hired thug really, however it comforted Kosal a little more to have the large brute around. Kosal had been a little more on edge since the last attempt on his life, and so he waiting, focus returning to the entrance once more.
The Arrangement
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Bosie Vaporgate
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:03 am
- Name: Buoyansie Vaporgate
- Race: gnome
Re: The Arrangement
Buoyansie pulled back the curtains in her son's bedroom and dislodged a flurry of dust that sparkled in the unwelcome daylight. Rigley, for his part, lifted the back of his hand to shield his eyes from the glare.
Mother marched over to inspect her boy, traced a finger along his yellow-tinged wrist, peered past his hand to jaundiced eyes. "Doctor says more daylight!" she announced after a pause. She hoisted herself up onto his human-sized bed and dangled a small pouch attached to her wrist before his eyes. "And a cup of herb tea with every meal--and that means eating every meal, have you got that?"
Rigley turned a dramatically mournful gaze on the pouch of tea, as if she were prescribing a regimen of genital electrocution followed by a hog spit sponge bath.
"You were good for the doctor today," Bosie added in encouragement. Those two children were perhaps the only people in the city for whom she'd bend in her hardheadedness.
Rigley pouted.
"What's gonna make my boy feel better, huh?"
"Mmmph," he scowled.
Bosie stroked his brittle hair. His temples were starting to take tinges of dusty silver, though the rest of him remained adolescent in appearance.
"Well, I guess if I can't have booze . . ." --a tentatively hopeful look at his mother was sussed by her swift, stern smile and the crinkle of her eyes."
"Moms, we want the Night-Cap," interjected the sister, who was lounging against the door frame and picking at her eyelashes.
Bosie's pursed lips reflected the attitude of a skeptic confronted by a naive child with trite superstitions; she hardly seemed willing to engage.
"Yeah, Moms. . ." added Rigley, his eyebrows puckered into a pathetic peak where they met at the center. "'Cause I don't feel good. . ."
* * * * *
The two figures coming down the alley towards the Split Tumbler could at first be mistaken for a father and young daughter. Even in the diminished light, however, it was quickly apparent that the relationship was vice-versa. The former's gait was too sullen, the latter too authoritative in her stride. She gripped his thumb with an upstretched hand, not unlike a child would, but the sinew in her hands stood out enough to show her age and her earnestness: she was keeping him from running off.
"The Split Tumbler, see?" Bosie raised her free hand to point to the entrance they came upon. Rigley grunted in affirmation. "We're gonna find the guy here. You just watch your old Mom and see." She squeezed his thumb affectionately and finally let him go as she trotted up to the door. There was no chance of the boy slipping off once the tiniest whiff of drink hit his senses.
The gnome pushed open the front door of the establishment and tromped several paces into the room before even looking about to her surroundings. Her son slunk in behind her. Her gaze found the familiar face in the room, that of the man at the bar. Fueller's gaze met hers for only a second, flicked meaningfully over to one of the few occupied booths, then turned back to his suddenly all-consuming task of scrubbing a stain on the counter.
Bosie put her hands on her hips and stared at Kosal from the center of the room, She licked her thumb, smoothed only one flyaway fluff of hair among many, and marched towards him.
Rigley skulked near the doorway, tracing his index finger along the grooves of the wood paneling and attempting to shoot hopeful glances at the bartender.
"Oh hi!" said Bosie loudly as she came close enough to Kosal that he could see the gleam of her little teeth. "Can I sit here, with you?"
Mother marched over to inspect her boy, traced a finger along his yellow-tinged wrist, peered past his hand to jaundiced eyes. "Doctor says more daylight!" she announced after a pause. She hoisted herself up onto his human-sized bed and dangled a small pouch attached to her wrist before his eyes. "And a cup of herb tea with every meal--and that means eating every meal, have you got that?"
Rigley turned a dramatically mournful gaze on the pouch of tea, as if she were prescribing a regimen of genital electrocution followed by a hog spit sponge bath.
"You were good for the doctor today," Bosie added in encouragement. Those two children were perhaps the only people in the city for whom she'd bend in her hardheadedness.
Rigley pouted.
"What's gonna make my boy feel better, huh?"
"Mmmph," he scowled.
Bosie stroked his brittle hair. His temples were starting to take tinges of dusty silver, though the rest of him remained adolescent in appearance.
"Well, I guess if I can't have booze . . ." --a tentatively hopeful look at his mother was sussed by her swift, stern smile and the crinkle of her eyes."
"Moms, we want the Night-Cap," interjected the sister, who was lounging against the door frame and picking at her eyelashes.
Bosie's pursed lips reflected the attitude of a skeptic confronted by a naive child with trite superstitions; she hardly seemed willing to engage.
"Yeah, Moms. . ." added Rigley, his eyebrows puckered into a pathetic peak where they met at the center. "'Cause I don't feel good. . ."
* * * * *
The two figures coming down the alley towards the Split Tumbler could at first be mistaken for a father and young daughter. Even in the diminished light, however, it was quickly apparent that the relationship was vice-versa. The former's gait was too sullen, the latter too authoritative in her stride. She gripped his thumb with an upstretched hand, not unlike a child would, but the sinew in her hands stood out enough to show her age and her earnestness: she was keeping him from running off.
"The Split Tumbler, see?" Bosie raised her free hand to point to the entrance they came upon. Rigley grunted in affirmation. "We're gonna find the guy here. You just watch your old Mom and see." She squeezed his thumb affectionately and finally let him go as she trotted up to the door. There was no chance of the boy slipping off once the tiniest whiff of drink hit his senses.
The gnome pushed open the front door of the establishment and tromped several paces into the room before even looking about to her surroundings. Her son slunk in behind her. Her gaze found the familiar face in the room, that of the man at the bar. Fueller's gaze met hers for only a second, flicked meaningfully over to one of the few occupied booths, then turned back to his suddenly all-consuming task of scrubbing a stain on the counter.
Bosie put her hands on her hips and stared at Kosal from the center of the room, She licked her thumb, smoothed only one flyaway fluff of hair among many, and marched towards him.
Rigley skulked near the doorway, tracing his index finger along the grooves of the wood paneling and attempting to shoot hopeful glances at the bartender.
"Oh hi!" said Bosie loudly as she came close enough to Kosal that he could see the gleam of her little teeth. "Can I sit here, with you?"
Re: The Arrangement
Kosal watched as the female gnome entered abrasively, noting the younger looking man skulking in behind her. Kosal shot Fueller a quick glance, waiting for the barman's indicative, affirming nod; when it came, Kosal's gaze fell once more to the gnome.
So this was her. As he understood it, Bosie had a bit of a reputation in the circles Kosal ran with as somewhat of an agitator, although from what he had heard, she had certainly had an effect on some governing laws concerning gnome rights. It was not something that particularly worried Kosal, he could not truthfully admit he cared much about the trials and tribulations plaguing the gnome community, however he did appreciate that this was a woman who, by all accounts, could get things done.
Kosal's dark eyebrows raised as Bosie spoke abruptly.
"Of course, please have a seat." Came Kosal's reply.
His instinctive nature began to size-up the worth and value of Bosie's possessions, a custom he often performed purely to appease his interests. Kosal noted the peculiar trinket adorning Bosie's neck, a half pig-snout necklace. He doubted the artefact had much value, yet still it was an irregularity that caught his attention.
"What brings you to the Split Tumbler today, looking for a quiet drink... or perhaps some trade?"
Kosal of course knew why she was here, however idle conversation was always a good way to gauge his potential clients, Kosal found, and this was not a meeting he wanted to go away empty handed from.
“Can I order you... or your friend a drink?”
So this was her. As he understood it, Bosie had a bit of a reputation in the circles Kosal ran with as somewhat of an agitator, although from what he had heard, she had certainly had an effect on some governing laws concerning gnome rights. It was not something that particularly worried Kosal, he could not truthfully admit he cared much about the trials and tribulations plaguing the gnome community, however he did appreciate that this was a woman who, by all accounts, could get things done.
Kosal's dark eyebrows raised as Bosie spoke abruptly.
"Of course, please have a seat." Came Kosal's reply.
His instinctive nature began to size-up the worth and value of Bosie's possessions, a custom he often performed purely to appease his interests. Kosal noted the peculiar trinket adorning Bosie's neck, a half pig-snout necklace. He doubted the artefact had much value, yet still it was an irregularity that caught his attention.
"What brings you to the Split Tumbler today, looking for a quiet drink... or perhaps some trade?"
Kosal of course knew why she was here, however idle conversation was always a good way to gauge his potential clients, Kosal found, and this was not a meeting he wanted to go away empty handed from.
“Can I order you... or your friend a drink?”
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Bosie Vaporgate
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:03 am
- Name: Buoyansie Vaporgate
- Race: gnome
Re: The Arrangement
Before Kosal even finished his invitation, Bosie was hefting herself up onto the seat opposite his. She sat up on her knees--there, her slacks were worn thin, and today she had on little leather pads over each kneecap, tied in place in the back. She ruffled her hair with her hand and adjusted her flat bodice, then put her hands flat on the table to support the weight her own eagerness leaning forward.
"Nope, no drink for me!" she asserted with a little more pride than the situation would politely call for. Her son was chewing on his thumbnail and throwing sidelong glances her way; he had a keen sense of hearing, too, when it came to his vices. "And not my son either." There was a sharpness to her cheery tone that indicated this was not a subject open to discussion with the third party in question.
"We haven't met," she said. "I'm Buoyansie Vaporgate?" She gave her name as a question, as if to wait for his affirmation he certainly knew of her, and yet she didn't wait for his response. "And I hear you're in sales!"
She pressed her lips together and settled down a little lower on her knees so that she wasn't leaning halfway across the booth anymore. Rather theatrically, she patted her fingers against her lips and raised her eyebrows at Kosal.
It seemed she wasn't going to wait for him to introduced himself either, for she continued after a few moments, hands folded on the table. "So please, sell me. Why is your product right for my client?" From the crinkled tips of her unruly hair to the comical grotesqueness of her necklace, there was enough humor in the gnome already that she hardly had to put on a grin to express her facetiousness.
"Nope, no drink for me!" she asserted with a little more pride than the situation would politely call for. Her son was chewing on his thumbnail and throwing sidelong glances her way; he had a keen sense of hearing, too, when it came to his vices. "And not my son either." There was a sharpness to her cheery tone that indicated this was not a subject open to discussion with the third party in question.
"We haven't met," she said. "I'm Buoyansie Vaporgate?" She gave her name as a question, as if to wait for his affirmation he certainly knew of her, and yet she didn't wait for his response. "And I hear you're in sales!"
She pressed her lips together and settled down a little lower on her knees so that she wasn't leaning halfway across the booth anymore. Rather theatrically, she patted her fingers against her lips and raised her eyebrows at Kosal.
It seemed she wasn't going to wait for him to introduced himself either, for she continued after a few moments, hands folded on the table. "So please, sell me. Why is your product right for my client?" From the crinkled tips of her unruly hair to the comical grotesqueness of her necklace, there was enough humor in the gnome already that she hardly had to put on a grin to express her facetiousness.
Re: The Arrangement
Kosal watched Bosie’s mannerisms with silent humour, he did not allow his face to portray this, however he was a little taken aback by her volume; this quickly subsided and he fell back into his professional face.
At the mention that Bosie’s companion was her son, Kosal’s eyebrow rose ever so slightly and he took another glance at Rigley fruitlessly as if it would confirm this knowledge somehow. He reasoned the young man could be a half-gnome and so troubled himself about the matter no further.
Kosal was about to answer Bosie before being brusquely cut-off. Rather than being offended by the gesture, a genuine smirk crossed his lips. He did not know exactly what he was expecting of the reputable Buoyansie Vaporgate, but he was sure it was not this; he found himself amused by his ignorance.
“Straight down to business... I’m relieved.”
And in truth he was, although Kosal enjoyed the banter he exchanged with first-time clients, he wanted to sell this particular product as swiftly as possible.
“My name is Kosal Vithu, and yes I’m here to sell.”
Kosal took a moment to reach inside his coat, he extracted a small leather pouch and then set it down on the table surface in front of Bosie, quickly unravelling the cord and opening the pouch out to reveal what appeared to be a tiny, withered fungus, blackened and arid-looking. Overall the mushroom did not appear appetising in the slightest; however, after a moment of inspection, it discharged an exotic aroma. The scent was almost intoxicating in itself, the fragrance would implant a sense of peace and calm if inhaled for too long.
“Night-Cap.” Kosal proclaimed.
“This is but a sample if you, or your client would like to try it. The drug can be ground down and smoked, some users choose this option for the Night-Cap’s aromatic qualities, however its effects are strongest when consumed raw, in this state.”
Kosal’s brown eyes looked up into Bosie’s face, the darkened hues under his eyes- a result of a recent lack of sleep, gave him a more frantic look than usual.
“The effects of this drug are highly stimulating; this is not the sort of crap you will find being bandied around the Historic Ruins by petty criminals... this is a drug of worth and is extremely hard to come-by, I would only expect to sell it to a true enthusiast, a person of significance who appreciates the finer luxuries of life and who doesn’t settle for second-rate kicks.”
Kosal grinned as he watched Bosie, a slight gleam in his eye.
“If your client wants the best, then this is the drug for you. I say this in confidence, feel free to test it yourself if you desire. You will find the results to be truly... magical.”
At the mention that Bosie’s companion was her son, Kosal’s eyebrow rose ever so slightly and he took another glance at Rigley fruitlessly as if it would confirm this knowledge somehow. He reasoned the young man could be a half-gnome and so troubled himself about the matter no further.
Kosal was about to answer Bosie before being brusquely cut-off. Rather than being offended by the gesture, a genuine smirk crossed his lips. He did not know exactly what he was expecting of the reputable Buoyansie Vaporgate, but he was sure it was not this; he found himself amused by his ignorance.
“Straight down to business... I’m relieved.”
And in truth he was, although Kosal enjoyed the banter he exchanged with first-time clients, he wanted to sell this particular product as swiftly as possible.
“My name is Kosal Vithu, and yes I’m here to sell.”
Kosal took a moment to reach inside his coat, he extracted a small leather pouch and then set it down on the table surface in front of Bosie, quickly unravelling the cord and opening the pouch out to reveal what appeared to be a tiny, withered fungus, blackened and arid-looking. Overall the mushroom did not appear appetising in the slightest; however, after a moment of inspection, it discharged an exotic aroma. The scent was almost intoxicating in itself, the fragrance would implant a sense of peace and calm if inhaled for too long.
“Night-Cap.” Kosal proclaimed.
“This is but a sample if you, or your client would like to try it. The drug can be ground down and smoked, some users choose this option for the Night-Cap’s aromatic qualities, however its effects are strongest when consumed raw, in this state.”
Kosal’s brown eyes looked up into Bosie’s face, the darkened hues under his eyes- a result of a recent lack of sleep, gave him a more frantic look than usual.
“The effects of this drug are highly stimulating; this is not the sort of crap you will find being bandied around the Historic Ruins by petty criminals... this is a drug of worth and is extremely hard to come-by, I would only expect to sell it to a true enthusiast, a person of significance who appreciates the finer luxuries of life and who doesn’t settle for second-rate kicks.”
Kosal grinned as he watched Bosie, a slight gleam in his eye.
“If your client wants the best, then this is the drug for you. I say this in confidence, feel free to test it yourself if you desire. You will find the results to be truly... magical.”
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Bosie Vaporgate
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:03 am
- Name: Buoyansie Vaporgate
- Race: gnome
Re: The Arrangement
The tip of Bosie's dark pink tongue peeked out between the upper and lower rows of her teeth as she listened, and smiled. She arched her eyebrows and craned her neck a little when he placed the sample product on the table, almost as if she had to peer over a small fence to see it; the posture seemed to indicate she was distancing herself slightly, although her expression betrayed no distaste.
The young-looking man, her son, started to step his way over to their table. He was cautious, like a young cat. His features were slightly angular, like his mother's, and slightly strained with anemia. Bosie didn't even look his way, but waved him over. He came to hover by the side of the table and stare fixedly at the scrap of fungus.
"See that, kiddo?" Bosie said to her son.
"Yeahhh, Moms, let's get some," he replied, fidgeting and sounding both embarrassed and impatient. He reluctantly settled onto the seat beside Bosie after she tugged on his sleeve.
"So!" she chirped to Kosal. "I'm sorry to say my client is not extremely discriminating. He is liable, at times, to take up just about anything that's 'bandied about.'" She licked her lips and grinned across the table encouragingly. Rigley was licking his lips too, and still admiring the ugly and potent drug before him.
"But! I don't want you to worry that you've wasted your breath with that charming sales pitch." Her smile became a bit tighter and she blinked a few times at Kosal. "I can't say I'm not intrigued . . . I daresay--you've got a way with words, almost have me convinced this product is imbued with a little something extra. That can't be, now, can it?"
She was up on her knees again, this time watching he son creep his fingers steadily towards the sample.
The young-looking man, her son, started to step his way over to their table. He was cautious, like a young cat. His features were slightly angular, like his mother's, and slightly strained with anemia. Bosie didn't even look his way, but waved him over. He came to hover by the side of the table and stare fixedly at the scrap of fungus.
"See that, kiddo?" Bosie said to her son.
"Yeahhh, Moms, let's get some," he replied, fidgeting and sounding both embarrassed and impatient. He reluctantly settled onto the seat beside Bosie after she tugged on his sleeve.
"So!" she chirped to Kosal. "I'm sorry to say my client is not extremely discriminating. He is liable, at times, to take up just about anything that's 'bandied about.'" She licked her lips and grinned across the table encouragingly. Rigley was licking his lips too, and still admiring the ugly and potent drug before him.
"But! I don't want you to worry that you've wasted your breath with that charming sales pitch." Her smile became a bit tighter and she blinked a few times at Kosal. "I can't say I'm not intrigued . . . I daresay--you've got a way with words, almost have me convinced this product is imbued with a little something extra. That can't be, now, can it?"
She was up on her knees again, this time watching he son creep his fingers steadily towards the sample.
Re: The Arrangement
Kosal watched Rigley’s enthusiasm with delight; this could be the sale he needed. Kosal could already envisage the beautiful piles of bishani, counting the ways he could duplicate his horde of speculative wealth through the card games and betting he was undoubtedly contemplating.
“Focus! You’re not there yet.”
Came the reminding thoughts inside his head. Kosal brought his attention back to Bosie before he spoke again, considering his words carefully.
“The value of this drug is rather high, and it would be fair to assume that the reason for this is that it does have a little something extra imbued in its making... the effect brings the user an even greater experience than they could otherwise expect from more mainstream products.”
Kosal watched again as Rigley edged his hands closer to the sample; a slight grin crept across his lips as he addressed him.
“You won’t be disappointed.”
If consumed, the usual result for users would bring about a sense of euphoria, where the magical properties would heighten any feelings of elation that may transpire tenfold. The drug’s effects would become highly addictive to the vast majority of users over a short period of time; even the small sample resting on the table would bring about cravings unless the consumer was of a strong disposition and had great control over their willpower.
“If you like the sample then perhaps you would be willing to buy a more substantial quantity from me. I’m sure we can come to a negotiable price.”
“Focus! You’re not there yet.”
Came the reminding thoughts inside his head. Kosal brought his attention back to Bosie before he spoke again, considering his words carefully.
“The value of this drug is rather high, and it would be fair to assume that the reason for this is that it does have a little something extra imbued in its making... the effect brings the user an even greater experience than they could otherwise expect from more mainstream products.”
Kosal watched again as Rigley edged his hands closer to the sample; a slight grin crept across his lips as he addressed him.
“You won’t be disappointed.”
If consumed, the usual result for users would bring about a sense of euphoria, where the magical properties would heighten any feelings of elation that may transpire tenfold. The drug’s effects would become highly addictive to the vast majority of users over a short period of time; even the small sample resting on the table would bring about cravings unless the consumer was of a strong disposition and had great control over their willpower.
“If you like the sample then perhaps you would be willing to buy a more substantial quantity from me. I’m sure we can come to a negotiable price.”
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Bosie Vaporgate
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:03 am
- Name: Buoyansie Vaporgate
- Race: gnome
Re: The Arrangement
Bosie's stubby nose twitched a few times, as if she felt an allergic attack coming on. She lifted both hands to the loser half of her face and scrunched her mouth up beneath them. She was thinking.
Rigley cast a sulky glance in her direction and withdrew his hand.
Kosal was clearly not going to trip the simple word trap again. If only he'd say "magic" once more, with no ambiguity to its literalness, she could enjoy that advantage: she was not above leveraging a little friendly entrapment. He knew better, though; it wouldn't do to waste her time pressing the matter.
"Well, I am looking to cheer up my youngest," she said as she lowered her hands and patted her son on the shoulder, "and I do manage to save a lot on groceries . . ." Her inability to take any situation entirely seriously showed as she poked fun at her family's small stature.
"Thing is, Mister Vithu, I'm not precisely sure if this is the appropriate gift for my son-bun, and I'm not going to feed him a sample of it just like that. We're sort of important people." While Bosie could possibly invoke such airs for herself, surely nobody but herself would consider her son anything close to a VIP.
"Reassure me first, okay? I want you to use the stuff, let me see how you do with it."
Rigley squirmed in his seat, but made no vocalization. He was not happy about letting that drug go to someone else while he was deprived, but he wasn't going to push his luck with a mother like Bosie.
Rigley cast a sulky glance in her direction and withdrew his hand.
Kosal was clearly not going to trip the simple word trap again. If only he'd say "magic" once more, with no ambiguity to its literalness, she could enjoy that advantage: she was not above leveraging a little friendly entrapment. He knew better, though; it wouldn't do to waste her time pressing the matter.
"Well, I am looking to cheer up my youngest," she said as she lowered her hands and patted her son on the shoulder, "and I do manage to save a lot on groceries . . ." Her inability to take any situation entirely seriously showed as she poked fun at her family's small stature.
"Thing is, Mister Vithu, I'm not precisely sure if this is the appropriate gift for my son-bun, and I'm not going to feed him a sample of it just like that. We're sort of important people." While Bosie could possibly invoke such airs for herself, surely nobody but herself would consider her son anything close to a VIP.
"Reassure me first, okay? I want you to use the stuff, let me see how you do with it."
Rigley squirmed in his seat, but made no vocalization. He was not happy about letting that drug go to someone else while he was deprived, but he wasn't going to push his luck with a mother like Bosie.
Re: The Arrangement
Kosal’s grin subsided and he withdrew into his seat, bringing his right hand up to begin idly stroking at his thin goatee. This was an unexpected situation for him and he cursed himself for not preparing for this scenario… this was after all a potential first-time buyer, and from what he could judge by her caution, not an addict herself.
Bosie was being cautious about her son’s welfare; Kosal had assumed any mother buying drugs for her son might not show such pretence, but it was a trait he was all too familiar with right now. Of course Bosie wanted to ensure that Night-Cap was not lethal or dangerous; he noted her choice of words- “See how you do.” The truth was that the only danger which stemmed from Night-Cap was the same danger that stemmed from any powerful drug; of course a person could overdose, but the main risk came from addiction, a user could resort to the desperate junkie lifestyle brought about by the abuse of such a drug if they overdid it.
Kosal had sampled drugs before, and on more than one occasion had sampled drugs he was selling in order to judge the quality, however he knew the potency of Night-Cap and his own addictive personality well, he did not want to add another financially-draining addiction to his repertoire.
Kosal peered down at the sample in front of them and basked in the sweet aroma of the scented tendrils which drifted up his nostrils; he had almost become accustomed to this smell and of course he wanted to try it but knew, as a dealer, the potential outcome from such an addictive drug. Instead, in these circumstances, he would stem this craving by resorting to a substitute, one of his pre-existing addictions, and as he sat there inhaling the enticing drug, he felt this was one of those situations.
“Fueller! One ale!”
He shot the barkeeper a cold glance, before bringing his attention back to Bosie in order to formulate an answer for her. Kosal quickly dismissed the notion of attempting to conceal a false consumption of the sample, no; he believed Bosie, for all her lack of elegance, was too intelligent for that.
Kosal looked down at the drug again, under normal circumstances he would not consider it, but given his current dilemma, he regarded it as a last resort.
Damn it! This is why I prefer dealing on a basis of recommendation. He thought to himself.
The idea came to him that Bosie might be open to a sampling by a neutral, third party if she simply wanted a demonstration of the immediate effects of the drug to satisfy her.
Kosal did not look up at the barkeeper as he brought the tankard over, setting it down on the table. Kosal reached into his coat once more, extracting a coin purse, he reached inside and withdrew three bishani, sliding them across the table towards Fueller, without looking up at him. Kosal, through a mild irrational irritation almost blamed the barkeeper for this situation, but he did nothing more to act upon it. He took a swig of the cool beer as Fueller swept up the coins and traipsed off back to the bar.
Kosal tried to persuade himself that by ordering a drink he was buying himself more time to think, in reality he needed alcohol at that point and he knew it.
Kosal realised he had probably let a little more time elapse than was generally considered socially acceptable before giving his reply. He made to begin his proposition of allowing a third party to sample the drug before his gaze was averted suddenly to the entrance of the tavern.
The aged wooden portcullis door to the Split Tumbler gently swung open and in stepped a lean figure, clad in a brown hooded cloak which fell just short of his cured leather boots. It did not become apparent that the figure was male until he brought his head up to begin scanning the room. From under the man’s hood, a pock-marked stubbly chin could be seen, making way to a pair of thinly curled lips, his hooked nose appeared slightly offset and bent as if it had been broken at one point in time. The man’s eyes were a sharp and piercing blue, watchful and precise.
Kosal’s gaze was fixed on the hooded man as a pang of anxiety swept over him abruptly and he became conscious that the man was searching for someone. Their eyes met and locked, Kosal looked on as the man assessed him before reaching beneath his hooded cloak to remove a scroll which he fervently unraveled. The man stared at the scroll then shot looks back and forth from Kosal to the scroll for only a moment, but it was long enough for Kosal to grasp the situation.
The man’s other hand shot out from under his cloak, grasping a short crossbow, which he aimed at Kosal.
“Oh shit!”
Kosal ducked under the table as the bolt was fired, shattering the clay tankard of ale, spilling the fluid across the table and embedding itself in the back of the stall seat where Kosal was positioned only a split second ago.
Kosal did not move from his transitory sanctuary under the table, but watched the bulky legs of the tavern’s bouncer as they pursued his would-be assailant. Kosal was more than happy to let the bouncer engage this hired assassin.
The assassin swept to the side of the hulking bouncer as he came crashing towards him in an attempt to knock him down, the bouncer stumbled for a moment then reeled on his feet to face his aggressor, reaching for a hammer lashed to his belt. The assassin did not have time to reload his crossbow and so dropped it, bringing his hand beneath his cloak to withdraw a short sword. The assassin made to strike at the bouncer, slicing the blade through the air towards his kidney area, only to be parried by the bouncer’s hammer as he brought it down to meet his attack with surprising speed for one his size.
Bosie was being cautious about her son’s welfare; Kosal had assumed any mother buying drugs for her son might not show such pretence, but it was a trait he was all too familiar with right now. Of course Bosie wanted to ensure that Night-Cap was not lethal or dangerous; he noted her choice of words- “See how you do.” The truth was that the only danger which stemmed from Night-Cap was the same danger that stemmed from any powerful drug; of course a person could overdose, but the main risk came from addiction, a user could resort to the desperate junkie lifestyle brought about by the abuse of such a drug if they overdid it.
Kosal had sampled drugs before, and on more than one occasion had sampled drugs he was selling in order to judge the quality, however he knew the potency of Night-Cap and his own addictive personality well, he did not want to add another financially-draining addiction to his repertoire.
Kosal peered down at the sample in front of them and basked in the sweet aroma of the scented tendrils which drifted up his nostrils; he had almost become accustomed to this smell and of course he wanted to try it but knew, as a dealer, the potential outcome from such an addictive drug. Instead, in these circumstances, he would stem this craving by resorting to a substitute, one of his pre-existing addictions, and as he sat there inhaling the enticing drug, he felt this was one of those situations.
“Fueller! One ale!”
He shot the barkeeper a cold glance, before bringing his attention back to Bosie in order to formulate an answer for her. Kosal quickly dismissed the notion of attempting to conceal a false consumption of the sample, no; he believed Bosie, for all her lack of elegance, was too intelligent for that.
Kosal looked down at the drug again, under normal circumstances he would not consider it, but given his current dilemma, he regarded it as a last resort.
Damn it! This is why I prefer dealing on a basis of recommendation. He thought to himself.
The idea came to him that Bosie might be open to a sampling by a neutral, third party if she simply wanted a demonstration of the immediate effects of the drug to satisfy her.
Kosal did not look up at the barkeeper as he brought the tankard over, setting it down on the table. Kosal reached into his coat once more, extracting a coin purse, he reached inside and withdrew three bishani, sliding them across the table towards Fueller, without looking up at him. Kosal, through a mild irrational irritation almost blamed the barkeeper for this situation, but he did nothing more to act upon it. He took a swig of the cool beer as Fueller swept up the coins and traipsed off back to the bar.
Kosal tried to persuade himself that by ordering a drink he was buying himself more time to think, in reality he needed alcohol at that point and he knew it.
Kosal realised he had probably let a little more time elapse than was generally considered socially acceptable before giving his reply. He made to begin his proposition of allowing a third party to sample the drug before his gaze was averted suddenly to the entrance of the tavern.
The aged wooden portcullis door to the Split Tumbler gently swung open and in stepped a lean figure, clad in a brown hooded cloak which fell just short of his cured leather boots. It did not become apparent that the figure was male until he brought his head up to begin scanning the room. From under the man’s hood, a pock-marked stubbly chin could be seen, making way to a pair of thinly curled lips, his hooked nose appeared slightly offset and bent as if it had been broken at one point in time. The man’s eyes were a sharp and piercing blue, watchful and precise.
Kosal’s gaze was fixed on the hooded man as a pang of anxiety swept over him abruptly and he became conscious that the man was searching for someone. Their eyes met and locked, Kosal looked on as the man assessed him before reaching beneath his hooded cloak to remove a scroll which he fervently unraveled. The man stared at the scroll then shot looks back and forth from Kosal to the scroll for only a moment, but it was long enough for Kosal to grasp the situation.
The man’s other hand shot out from under his cloak, grasping a short crossbow, which he aimed at Kosal.
“Oh shit!”
Kosal ducked under the table as the bolt was fired, shattering the clay tankard of ale, spilling the fluid across the table and embedding itself in the back of the stall seat where Kosal was positioned only a split second ago.
Kosal did not move from his transitory sanctuary under the table, but watched the bulky legs of the tavern’s bouncer as they pursued his would-be assailant. Kosal was more than happy to let the bouncer engage this hired assassin.
The assassin swept to the side of the hulking bouncer as he came crashing towards him in an attempt to knock him down, the bouncer stumbled for a moment then reeled on his feet to face his aggressor, reaching for a hammer lashed to his belt. The assassin did not have time to reload his crossbow and so dropped it, bringing his hand beneath his cloak to withdraw a short sword. The assassin made to strike at the bouncer, slicing the blade through the air towards his kidney area, only to be parried by the bouncer’s hammer as he brought it down to meet his attack with surprising speed for one his size.
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Bosie Vaporgate
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:03 am
- Name: Buoyansie Vaporgate
- Race: gnome
Re: The Arrangement
Buoyansie had already established her disinterest in drinking, so when Kosal ordered, she waited patiently with a hand clasped over her boy's shoulder as if to restrain him for his own lack of will power. If the seller was stalling for time, she made no comment, for Bosie was certainly no stranger to posturing, herself.
As Kosal drank, and pondered, she stood up on her bench and busied herself grooming the graying spot at the temple of her son's unkempt hair, and didn't seem to register the unusual length of Kosal's inaction. The son conceded this indignity as if it were normal for a grown man to be mollycoddled in this way in public.
Even as the would-be assassin entered, Bosie was far too interested in inspecting the pale orange scabbing over a patch of eczema behind Rigley's ear, and didn't notice the ominous figure looking their way.
Only when Kosal cried out did her demeanor change. At once, her little, practically glittering teeth were bared in an unkind grin and her hand flew to her hip where her revolver rested in its holster. From her standing position, she half-leaned, half-flung herself to shield Rigley from the waist up, after her moment's vigilance was rewarded by the arrival of the fired arrow.
Rigley, for his part, was quick to wriggle down and join Kosal under the table. Bosie clambered over him and out of the booth, her revolver at the ready.
"Self defense!" she hollered as she waved the gun for all to see. "SELF DEFENSE!!" It would seem she perhaps had experience with wrongful accusations, and was hoping to preempt any such thing.
She, amazingly, started to approach the scuffle, but all the while with her revolver aimed near the knees of the men fighting. "You stop it!" she shouted. Her strident little voice carried as well as any full-sized human's. "I will fire! . . . In self defense!"
She kept her distance of about fifteen gnome-sized paces, but shuffled around the fight in an arc towards the door. There was no way she intended to leave her son behind, though; it could very well be she intended to block the exit.
As Kosal drank, and pondered, she stood up on her bench and busied herself grooming the graying spot at the temple of her son's unkempt hair, and didn't seem to register the unusual length of Kosal's inaction. The son conceded this indignity as if it were normal for a grown man to be mollycoddled in this way in public.
Even as the would-be assassin entered, Bosie was far too interested in inspecting the pale orange scabbing over a patch of eczema behind Rigley's ear, and didn't notice the ominous figure looking their way.
Only when Kosal cried out did her demeanor change. At once, her little, practically glittering teeth were bared in an unkind grin and her hand flew to her hip where her revolver rested in its holster. From her standing position, she half-leaned, half-flung herself to shield Rigley from the waist up, after her moment's vigilance was rewarded by the arrival of the fired arrow.
Rigley, for his part, was quick to wriggle down and join Kosal under the table. Bosie clambered over him and out of the booth, her revolver at the ready.
"Self defense!" she hollered as she waved the gun for all to see. "SELF DEFENSE!!" It would seem she perhaps had experience with wrongful accusations, and was hoping to preempt any such thing.
She, amazingly, started to approach the scuffle, but all the while with her revolver aimed near the knees of the men fighting. "You stop it!" she shouted. Her strident little voice carried as well as any full-sized human's. "I will fire! . . . In self defense!"
She kept her distance of about fifteen gnome-sized paces, but shuffled around the fight in an arc towards the door. There was no way she intended to leave her son behind, though; it could very well be she intended to block the exit.
Re: The Arrangement
Kosal’s apprehensive, wide eyes watched on as Rigley’s mother paced the room around the scuffle, edging nearer to the tavern entrance. He took note of the foreboding revolver she now had aimed in their general direction, and apparently the assailant had taken note of this as well.
The cloaked man turned his head as Bosie had begun shouting, his attention immediately drawn to the ominous firearm she was now wielding. It appeared he was sizing up his chances and did not like the look of these odds.
The tavern’s bouncer took this opportunity of distraction to seize the man’s sword-arm, clutching it tightly in place before bringing his hammer down to meet the man’s skull, bludgeoning him to the ground. The assassin convulsed for a few moments; his muscles entered a spasm before he ceased all movement at all, lying still and motionless.
The few other occupants of the tavern stared on in silence, they had hardly moved during the brief quarrel. It would seem by their lack of unrest that disruptions like this were not altogether out of the ordinary in this shady little establishment.
“Is he dead?”
Kosal emerged from his shelter slowly and warily as he posed the question. He shuffled over to where the man lay and reached for the furrowed piece of parchment which had fallen from the man’s grasp, he unfolded it and looked at it for a second before crumpling it into an inner pocket of his long over-coat.
Kosal glanced over at Bosie, wondering how she would react to this event, she seemed quite hard to predict.
The cloaked man turned his head as Bosie had begun shouting, his attention immediately drawn to the ominous firearm she was now wielding. It appeared he was sizing up his chances and did not like the look of these odds.
The tavern’s bouncer took this opportunity of distraction to seize the man’s sword-arm, clutching it tightly in place before bringing his hammer down to meet the man’s skull, bludgeoning him to the ground. The assassin convulsed for a few moments; his muscles entered a spasm before he ceased all movement at all, lying still and motionless.
The few other occupants of the tavern stared on in silence, they had hardly moved during the brief quarrel. It would seem by their lack of unrest that disruptions like this were not altogether out of the ordinary in this shady little establishment.
“Is he dead?”
Kosal emerged from his shelter slowly and warily as he posed the question. He shuffled over to where the man lay and reached for the furrowed piece of parchment which had fallen from the man’s grasp, he unfolded it and looked at it for a second before crumpling it into an inner pocket of his long over-coat.
Kosal glanced over at Bosie, wondering how she would react to this event, she seemed quite hard to predict.
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Bosie Vaporgate
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:03 am
- Name: Buoyansie Vaporgate
- Race: gnome
Re: The Arrangement
When the assailant looked at Bosie, her expression lit up like an ember beneath the fizzling fire of her tousled hair. Self defense was what she claimed, but right before the head of the bouncer's hammer cracked down, she didn't seem terribly reluctant to release her own hammer--that of the gnomish revolver--while the man was restrained.
Still, it was better she not have blood on her hands. Before Kosal came over, she had already begun to approach the body. It was at least a tidy situation, for there appeared to be no blood to sully anybody's hands.
"Eh, I'm not a doctor," she replied cheerfully in response to Kosal's question, although the outlook for the man on the floor was clearly not good. She glanced over to the bouncer and wrinkled her nose sympathetically. "Self defense," she said with grave tone and a nod of encouragement, before moving on.
Bosie adjusted her bodice with a tug at the waistline as she marched back over to the table to check on her boy. She gave a swift, beady-eyed look in Kosal's direction as he crumpled up his scrap of paper.
Rigley steadied himself with one hand on top of his mother's head as he got back up to his feet. He rubbed his elbow and mumbled about a bruise. Bosie blew a raspberry into her palm and patted it over the invisible wound before herding him back onto his bench seat. This time she took the outer side, with the boy against the wall.
She clasped her hands tightly on the table before her and gave Kosal a tight smile. "So! He forgot to attach to note to the end of the arrow first, or . . .?"
Still, it was better she not have blood on her hands. Before Kosal came over, she had already begun to approach the body. It was at least a tidy situation, for there appeared to be no blood to sully anybody's hands.
"Eh, I'm not a doctor," she replied cheerfully in response to Kosal's question, although the outlook for the man on the floor was clearly not good. She glanced over to the bouncer and wrinkled her nose sympathetically. "Self defense," she said with grave tone and a nod of encouragement, before moving on.
Bosie adjusted her bodice with a tug at the waistline as she marched back over to the table to check on her boy. She gave a swift, beady-eyed look in Kosal's direction as he crumpled up his scrap of paper.
Rigley steadied himself with one hand on top of his mother's head as he got back up to his feet. He rubbed his elbow and mumbled about a bruise. Bosie blew a raspberry into her palm and patted it over the invisible wound before herding him back onto his bench seat. This time she took the outer side, with the boy against the wall.
She clasped her hands tightly on the table before her and gave Kosal a tight smile. "So! He forgot to attach to note to the end of the arrow first, or . . .?"
Re: The Arrangement
Fueller, the tavern’s proprietor bawled across the room to the bouncer.
“Get that body out of here!”
In response the great lout hefted the limp corpse over his shoulder tetchily and strode towards the entrance and out of the door.
This had been the second attempt on Kosal’s life now, and as if he were not on edge enough as it was already, his tense mood had not receded after this confrontation. Kosal watched after Bosie as she went to sit down, he slumped after her, positioning himself back in the seat opposite her and facing the door. Kosal waited a few moments for the other occupants of the tavern to resume their hushed conversations once more before he replied to Bosie’s question, in reference to the parchment.
“It wasn’t so much a note for my benefit as it was an aid for our late departed friend there.”
Bosie had obviously noticed him take the piece of paper and given what had just transpired, Kosal saw little benefit in concealing it from her. He dipped his hand into his pocket again to extract the crumpled paper, unraveling it and sliding it across a dry patch of the table, facing up towards Bosie. The image revealed a drawn sketch of what was presumably Kosal’s face; unlike a wanted poster however, there was no written text on the parchment.
Under normal circumstances Kosal would have been highly suspicious of Bosie right now, it would not have been the first time a client had tried to rip him off during a deal, although never with such a potentially fatal outcome. However he knew exactly what this was about.
“I must apologise for this unfortunate incident, it would seem I’ve upset someone.”
His tone was a little less sympathetic then perhaps it would have been about quarter of an ago.
“My enterprise has attracted a rivalry; it’s to be expected with such lucrative business.”
The word enterprise was somewhat of an exaggeration of the drug-ring Kosal was dealing in, however he had an idea of how he wanted to approach this subject.
“Get that body out of here!”
In response the great lout hefted the limp corpse over his shoulder tetchily and strode towards the entrance and out of the door.
This had been the second attempt on Kosal’s life now, and as if he were not on edge enough as it was already, his tense mood had not receded after this confrontation. Kosal watched after Bosie as she went to sit down, he slumped after her, positioning himself back in the seat opposite her and facing the door. Kosal waited a few moments for the other occupants of the tavern to resume their hushed conversations once more before he replied to Bosie’s question, in reference to the parchment.
“It wasn’t so much a note for my benefit as it was an aid for our late departed friend there.”
Bosie had obviously noticed him take the piece of paper and given what had just transpired, Kosal saw little benefit in concealing it from her. He dipped his hand into his pocket again to extract the crumpled paper, unraveling it and sliding it across a dry patch of the table, facing up towards Bosie. The image revealed a drawn sketch of what was presumably Kosal’s face; unlike a wanted poster however, there was no written text on the parchment.
Under normal circumstances Kosal would have been highly suspicious of Bosie right now, it would not have been the first time a client had tried to rip him off during a deal, although never with such a potentially fatal outcome. However he knew exactly what this was about.
“I must apologise for this unfortunate incident, it would seem I’ve upset someone.”
His tone was a little less sympathetic then perhaps it would have been about quarter of an ago.
“My enterprise has attracted a rivalry; it’s to be expected with such lucrative business.”
The word enterprise was somewhat of an exaggeration of the drug-ring Kosal was dealing in, however he had an idea of how he wanted to approach this subject.
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Bosie Vaporgate
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:03 am
- Name: Buoyansie Vaporgate
- Race: gnome
Re: The Arrangement
Bosie had her eyes on Kosal as he made his way back to the table, but she still managed to slap away Rigley's hand as he tentatively reached for her holstered revolver. Mother's instinct, perhaps. Rigley made a distasteful face as he noticed the spilled ale had dripped onto his seat and left a wet spot on his trousers.
Bosie scrunched her mouth to one side and pinched at the springy muscle of her cheek. She eyed the sketch on Kosal's parchment appraisingly. "A visual aid. . ." she mused. "Hm! Not bad. You should keep that, it's a good likeness."
She cracked her knuckles individually--they gave a higher pitched popping noise than a human's--as she thought over his words. "It is to be expected, Vithu, it is," she said, with a hint of reprimand in her tone. She tilted her head and looked at him with a mixture of pity over the lack of foresight and sympathy; her customary grin cracked through within a few moments, and she went on.
"Seems you've found yourself on the wrong end of a, you know, protection racket." Bosie lifted a hand to prop up her cheek as she glanced around the aftermath with raised eyebrows: broken tankard, spilled ale, disgruntled proprietor, and only the scuff marks of boot soles to indicate the erstwhile presence of the assassin.
"And, fact is, one usually wants to be on the other side of things." She formed her free hand into a blade and indicated the left hand side of the table. "So how'd a savvy businessman like yourself end up on this end?" She chopped her palm-blade to the right for emphasis.
Bosie scrunched her mouth to one side and pinched at the springy muscle of her cheek. She eyed the sketch on Kosal's parchment appraisingly. "A visual aid. . ." she mused. "Hm! Not bad. You should keep that, it's a good likeness."
She cracked her knuckles individually--they gave a higher pitched popping noise than a human's--as she thought over his words. "It is to be expected, Vithu, it is," she said, with a hint of reprimand in her tone. She tilted her head and looked at him with a mixture of pity over the lack of foresight and sympathy; her customary grin cracked through within a few moments, and she went on.
"Seems you've found yourself on the wrong end of a, you know, protection racket." Bosie lifted a hand to prop up her cheek as she glanced around the aftermath with raised eyebrows: broken tankard, spilled ale, disgruntled proprietor, and only the scuff marks of boot soles to indicate the erstwhile presence of the assassin.
"And, fact is, one usually wants to be on the other side of things." She formed her free hand into a blade and indicated the left hand side of the table. "So how'd a savvy businessman like yourself end up on this end?" She chopped her palm-blade to the right for emphasis.
Re: The Arrangement
Kosal took a momentary interest in Rigley as he noticed the graying patches of hair at his temples, he found this odd given his juvenile mannerisms; it struck him that the boy might not be as young as he had first appeared to Kosal, which led to Kosal’s increased curiosity in Rigley’s picking and prodding, he would try to take things like an infant might try to snatch a treat; and Bosie’s mothering nature only served to encourage the behaviour in Kosal’s eyes. Still, Kosal was unusually encouraged by the pair’s characters’; unique. Kosal reasoned that after an event like that, the majority of his clients would not have stuck around to see the outcome through to its end.
Kosal took Bosie’s advice (however much in humour it was meant to be), and retracted the sketch back into the confines of his inner coat, to linger with whatever other seedy trappings he kept within its dark recesses.
“It is true that my rival is dangerous and that he heads a racket, but the reason he wants me dead is not because of some late payment for protection. I used to do work with him of sorts, and this little drug here…”
Kosal’s eyes fell on the drug sample which still remained on the table after all that had transpired. He slid it across the table surface slightly as he noticed the spilt ale, slowly pooling its way towards where it lay.
“…This Night-Cap is the reason he now wants me dead. I knew the Night-Cap’s worth when we discovered a plantation that was growing it, and so when I proposed to go at it alone, my rival was not too pleased, he wanted in on my deals, felt that I owed him because of our previous transactions.”
Kosal decided to leave his little transgression in this matter, out of his story for now.
“Of course my new venture of being Marn’s sole importer and distributor of this highly-difficult-to-obtain drug, is hindered by the fact that this gang also knows about the plantation where the Night-Cap is being grown, and they too have the same vision as me, they are making my life very difficult. My contacts at this plantation are willing to work with them from fear of their reputation.”
Kosal paused for a moment
“What I really need right now is help in eliminating this competition.”
Kosal brought his hand up to stroke his chin.
“It had not escaped my notice Miss Buoyansie Vaporgate that you have a reputation also, I know you have influence within the law. Where I have contacts on the street and within the legitimate boundaries of trade establishments… I lack the influence you have within the government, or more specifically, within its protection.”
Kosal took Bosie’s advice (however much in humour it was meant to be), and retracted the sketch back into the confines of his inner coat, to linger with whatever other seedy trappings he kept within its dark recesses.
“It is true that my rival is dangerous and that he heads a racket, but the reason he wants me dead is not because of some late payment for protection. I used to do work with him of sorts, and this little drug here…”
Kosal’s eyes fell on the drug sample which still remained on the table after all that had transpired. He slid it across the table surface slightly as he noticed the spilt ale, slowly pooling its way towards where it lay.
“…This Night-Cap is the reason he now wants me dead. I knew the Night-Cap’s worth when we discovered a plantation that was growing it, and so when I proposed to go at it alone, my rival was not too pleased, he wanted in on my deals, felt that I owed him because of our previous transactions.”
Kosal decided to leave his little transgression in this matter, out of his story for now.
“Of course my new venture of being Marn’s sole importer and distributor of this highly-difficult-to-obtain drug, is hindered by the fact that this gang also knows about the plantation where the Night-Cap is being grown, and they too have the same vision as me, they are making my life very difficult. My contacts at this plantation are willing to work with them from fear of their reputation.”
Kosal paused for a moment
“What I really need right now is help in eliminating this competition.”
Kosal brought his hand up to stroke his chin.
“It had not escaped my notice Miss Buoyansie Vaporgate that you have a reputation also, I know you have influence within the law. Where I have contacts on the street and within the legitimate boundaries of trade establishments… I lack the influence you have within the government, or more specifically, within its protection.”