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Quin: *gives him a nod, then…glances at the door before whispering* Inriomai? *doesn’t want to look/sound the fool if he’s wrong*

Dox: *lifts his head* Yes. I was wondering if you knew, but didn't want to frighten you if you didn't. Well met, friend Harlequin.

Quin: *grins, relaxing* Well met indeed, Dox. Are you and Warrik bonded or just close?

Dox: We are bonded. *proud of that* Have been for nearly three years now.

Quin: *small grin and a nod, though there’s a faint guardedness to it – he…still hasn’t really reconciled the “positivity” of that with his own personal biases* I’m glad for you. I assume Warrik is happy with this too?

Dox: *nods* We developed a friendship over four years before bonding. He wanted to be sure of me first.

Quin: *just…nods again* I’m happy for you both. *will slip into bed*

Dox: Thank you. Sleep well, friend.

===

*Vashti has approved the plan for Quin to join his family and offer a performance at Kadar’s place, assuming Kadar accepted the offer Tam and Ziomi would be making today. Quin and Scraps will head back for the town, and in the meantime, Tam and Ziomi are reaching the place they agreed to meet Mitham and Naijah before going in to Kadar’s, just to see if they’ve learned anything yet.*

((Character List:

The Family: AMIN: Terris; HUMANS: Ziomi, Wes, Mitham, Naijah, Khepri, Patch, Harlequin, Tam, Rihn; J’HAR: Zera, Talim, Jerrica, Jimn; HALF-BLOODS: Nyri, Jendayi; INRIOMAI: Ilmari (white wolf), Raizen (white dragon), Daithi (hawk); CYBERTRONIANS: Optimus (TFA)

The Animals: Rory (horse), Toby (horse), Squeaks (fox), Crackers (goat), various unnamed chickens

Other People: DESTROM: Lyria (the lady), Darien (son half-blood), Soren (lady’s lover, j’har), Dycus (bear amin); LA’KAR: Kalan (lord), Lunnaei (lady), Darden (human), Mairi (Darden’s wife), Aren (j’har), Klatu (lion amin), unnamed others; ALVIERDA: Vashti (lady, half-blood), Warrik (j’har), Tyli (cheetah amin), Rashek (mountain lion amin), Skif (j’har, Warrik’s son), Zasha (panda amin), Bixby (cat amin), Kelsier (j’har), Vin (j’har), Nasha (j’har), Scraps (aka Ameya, fennec fox amin);

OTHERS: Taren Horbel (trader, does business with Vashti), Kadar Ander (noble, part of home is inn, may know secret about Vashti)))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Quin: …………. *knew this was a shit assignment from the start, just hopes he can keep the rest of his family out of any further involvement or future danger . . . also, he didn’t know that Vashti “never” takes human slaves, it hadn’t really registered that he was the only one – draws a deep breath* Lady Alvierda was warned by an acquaintance that he’d heard you thought you’ve learned of some terrible, damaging secret about her. Whether she has one or not is irrelevant – less influential people have been absolutely ruined on nothing more than speculation. She could hardly come ask you or even send another to do so because, if you are as intelligent as you are observant, you’d have denied it in any respect. But . . . as we are sitting here now, I will ask you out right – do you believe that you have learned something potentially damaging about Lady Vashti Alvierda and, if so, what?

Kadar: *appreciates that Quin doesn't try to keep denying it. For that he gives the bard a small nod of appreciation.* Three months ago one of my bookkeepers reported to me that Lady Alvierda had cheated me in a previous business arrangement we had made. Rather than outright accuse her of this, I have had my people rechecking the numbers. For someone who works so closely with so many traders, being labeled a cheat could financially ruin her. I do not wish anyone any undue harm. If I had found that I had indeed been cheated, I planned to confront her privately, give her a chance to remedy the wrong as a simple mistake rather than a deliberate act against me. I'm afraid gossip is impossible to stop, and so word slowly spread that I had learned some terrible, damaging secret and was simply searching for proof. In truth, I was, though would only have reported her had I indeed found that proof, /and/ she refused to right the wrong. I will tell you now, in all confidence, there was an error in our books. Lady Alvierda has been fair in all hear dealings with me and I have nothing negative to say about her. Will you be allowed to see your troupe before you must return to the Lady's estate?

Quin: *struggles to contain the IMMENSE RELIEF that it’s not what he – and likely she – has been fearing this whole time…if indeed this is the truth and not a cover for what he’s really investigating…but no, this really does seem far more likely to be the issue than his having somehow learned either of her heritage or the half-blood she harbors - nods* Thank you, Lord Kadar, and in that case, I will apologize on behalf of my lady, who also did not want to act rashly. And yes, sir, I will. Though…aside from their trying to help me in my task, they /have/ enjoyed performing here. I hope you’ll think kindly of them.

Kadar: I do understand, and appreciate her discretion. And certainly. I was going to ask you to let them know they are still welcome to perform here if they wished now that they aren't doing so merely as an excuse to try to learn what I might say against Lady Alvierda. Give my regards to the Lady as well. I hope this whole fiasco has not soured her to possible future business ventures.

Quin: Thank you, sir. When my time is up, I look forward to joining them here to perform for you. And . . . I cannot speak /for/ my lady, but I can give my personal opinion that, no, it has not. I think she’ll appreciate how you’ve handled this.

Kadar: I look forward to it. Have a good day, Harlequin. *He stands and motions Quin back towards the door. He'll even step over to the doorway and point down the hall* First stairway on your right will take you back to the front near the inn.

Quin: *stands and bows /low/* Blessings upon you and your household, Lord Kadar. *and he’ll head out, /relieved/*

Kadar: Thank you. LifeLight shine upon you.
Scraps: *outside, worried. She wasn't allowed to follow Quin. She /perks/ when she sees him* Harlequin? *concerned and relieved at the same time*

Quin: *gives her a nod and a grin, leading her away in the direction of meeting the others – only once they’re away, quietly* He’s been on to things since Rai was asking around. He knows I’ve been in and out of town, and that Tam and the others have been asking around as well as performing there a /lot/. He . . . seems to be okay with things. He knows that a rumor of some “terrible, damaging secret” got out of hand despite his efforts. Apparently, three months ago, one of his bookkeepers went to him claiming that Lady Vashti may have cheated him on a business deal. He had his people go back over their numbers carefully before saying anything to her. They found the error – it was on their end. He hopes after all this that she’s still willing to do business with him in the future. And that the Pranksters are welcome to continue performing at his home if they wish.

Scraps: *deep sigh of relief* LifeLight, that's good to hear.
Ziomi: I'd say. He sounds like a good man, I'm glad there's nothing more to worry about.

((I'm assuming that "meeting up with everyone else" is the other Pranksters likely heading in for more work and performing.))

Edited 2017-03-17 18:18 (UTC)