30 ASH 121
Two knocks — one different by the other in placement on the door — sounded simultaneously before the Madame’s voice drifted out with permission to come in.
It was not an odd request for Madame Lunaria to request Nnerka’s presence. This was usually to discuss details of more...particular patrons that wanted a visitation with the fae. Now was likely no different. Had to be; the older gentleman that sat in front of the Madame’s desk seemed pleased to see the spider as she strode in. The Madame...was harder to read. At least, for Nnerka. There was still the tricky matter of understanding how the woman worked after years of being here. But the spider thought nothing of that. Her interest laid in the reason of why she’d been summoned in the first place.
“This —” She gestured to the man, who got to his feet. His hairline had greyed completely, leaving the remnants of fading brown hair behind it. His beard was much the same; peppering out to a slightly more youthful brown the further from his chin the hairs were. His grin was broad as he removed a wide-brimmed hat from atop his head. “Is Harada Masato.”
The man extended one hand, the other grasping a cane she suspected he didn’t rightly need. The handle of the cane looked to be the head of an adder, his fingers splayed over it enough to display the wood carving. She gave a hand, one of her left, that bowed toward slightly before kissing it. He was about average height, an estimation based solely on the fact that he was just barely at chest height. A brow rose, gaze drifting for a moment to the Madame before resting on the man once more as he stood upright once more. There was a pleasant air about him, but one that felt more like it was practiced than actual. Or perhaps that was just her. Regardless, it made the man more interesting. She smiled in greeting, returning the bow herself before finding her seat beside him in front of the Madame’s desk.
“Harada-ssi has been inquiring about having a travel partner for his trip to Zaichaer this season.” The Madame’s head inclined toward the man, as if giving him permission to speak.
He did so without further prompting. “The trip will be short, relatively. I have not a need for a business partner, but I am interested in a travel companion that will make my time in the city more tolerable.”
“What sort of business do you do, sir — if, you don’t mind my asking?” Madame Lunaria’s gaze was not sharp, but it wasn’t exactly soft either when it landed on Nnerka as the question left her mouth. She shrugged minutely; it was important. She wouldn’t want to be stuck accompanying someone that sold paperweights. That would be dreadfully boring.
Harada raised a hand, a chuckle on his lips. He must have caught the look between courtesan and master. “No, I do not mind.” The man adjusted himself in his seat, so he faced the spider more than the madame. Both hands rested on his cane. “I’m in the brewing business. I believe, according to the Madame, that you’re quite a fan of the liquors and wines that my family has produced.”
It took a moment of thought before a light of recognition came to Nnerka’s eyes. “The insect wine!” The delight in her voice carried to the musical edge to her tone.
“Yes, that wine.” He seemed pleased with her enthusiasm, the spider leaned in with her full attention. “I wish to distribute outside of Kalsazi. Zaichaer, as our neighbor, would be an interesting area to get into. While they advocate certain...views, there may be a market yet.”
“I should hope so. They’ll be all the better for it.” A beat passed, then: “What sort of views does Zaichaer have exactly?”
The other two occupants of the room blinked. For as long as Nnerka had lived in Kalsazi, she had only heard a smattering of opinions about Zaichaer. Most thought to what one city thought of another did not matter to her. A city was an ephemeral construct of brick and stone that would be gone soon enough. Why should she share any concern as to what others thought of another?
Harada’s chuckle was disguised in a poorly placed cough. “They, hm. There’s a certain...disdain for the magical and perverse.”
“Insects are perfectly natural and there is nothing…'perverse’ about them.” Her rebuttal was quick, smooth. Another shrug of her shoulders followed.
Harada had to say, he much appreciated the freshness of how self-assured the spider was. A good choice on behalf of the Madame. He was not so well-versed with the courtesans of the Velvet Cabaret in the way that his sons were. Notorious gamblers, but competent businessmen where it mattered. It had been their idea to see to having someone on his arm when he attempted to make arrangements, and that it should be him to do it. A sort of respectability to the business move if he took the helm and made it seem as if the decision would be handed down to his children. He liked the sort of thought they could produce when they put their mind to it and had agreed without hesitance. It was only the matter of this aspect of their approach that he had him skeptical of how well it would work. Not so much anymore.
He turned to the Madame, brows raised and as if to voice his approval.
“As you can see.” Madame Lunaria sat up straighter in her seat. “Nnerka presents an interesting sort of...naivete that will make her plenty endearing to the crowd you wish to promote your business to. On top of that, I can assure you that she will also provide you with adequate protection just by her mere presence.”
A gesture to the fae’s frame, one that prompted a raised brow. One that was almost incredulous. Of course, the fae held her tongue toward the comment of her naivety. She was no green child, wide-eyed and innocent to the world. She knew more than they probably understood. She sniffed, turned her attention back to the Harada.
“Considering the actions of our, hm, competent leaders in Glade and how certain talks went, it would behoove you to have some sort of protection.” Madame Lunariai’s nose turned up, gaze shifting over to the Fae. “She would make an imposing figure beside you, and I do believe she has some combat experience.”
Nnerka’s brow twitched, but her smile was easy at the praise. Her experience was perhaps unconventional, but Harada didn’t look bothered by that. Maybe his smile was a touch tighter as he glanced over at the courtesan. Perhaps he was bothered by it. Her smile widened, pulling at the slits of flesh at her cheeks.
“The trip will be from the 13th of Earth’s Rest to the 31st. A...longer trip than I would like, but I need the time to gather contacts and details for potential buyers. Plus, a need to be cautious with all that — that mage business they have going on.”
Another twitch of her brow. That was probably another thing she didn’t care much for. She would learn of it in due time, maybe.
“That seems fine to me.” Another shrug to follow, the spider lounging back some to look between Lunaria and Harada. As if a breath had been released, whatever tension was in the room fled. “Would be nice to see somewhere else for a change.”
“I fear you may not like the city so much.”
“And why’s that?”
Harada chuckled once more, stood to his feet. Crow’s feet roosted by his eyes as he smiled. “They enjoy machines more than they do nature.” A beat, then: “But please; don’t let that stop you from any enthusiasm concerning travel.” He gestured to the Madame. “I will not detain you further for boring business talk, but rest assured I will be covering your travel expenses.”
“And we will see about getting you a more Zaichaeri-feeling wardrobe for the trip.”
The dismissal was clear. Standing, she nodded. “I look forward to the trip.”
It was not an odd request for Madame Lunaria to request Nnerka’s presence. This was usually to discuss details of more...particular patrons that wanted a visitation with the fae. Now was likely no different. Had to be; the older gentleman that sat in front of the Madame’s desk seemed pleased to see the spider as she strode in. The Madame...was harder to read. At least, for Nnerka. There was still the tricky matter of understanding how the woman worked after years of being here. But the spider thought nothing of that. Her interest laid in the reason of why she’d been summoned in the first place.
“This —” She gestured to the man, who got to his feet. His hairline had greyed completely, leaving the remnants of fading brown hair behind it. His beard was much the same; peppering out to a slightly more youthful brown the further from his chin the hairs were. His grin was broad as he removed a wide-brimmed hat from atop his head. “Is Harada Masato.”
The man extended one hand, the other grasping a cane she suspected he didn’t rightly need. The handle of the cane looked to be the head of an adder, his fingers splayed over it enough to display the wood carving. She gave a hand, one of her left, that bowed toward slightly before kissing it. He was about average height, an estimation based solely on the fact that he was just barely at chest height. A brow rose, gaze drifting for a moment to the Madame before resting on the man once more as he stood upright once more. There was a pleasant air about him, but one that felt more like it was practiced than actual. Or perhaps that was just her. Regardless, it made the man more interesting. She smiled in greeting, returning the bow herself before finding her seat beside him in front of the Madame’s desk.
“Harada-ssi has been inquiring about having a travel partner for his trip to Zaichaer this season.” The Madame’s head inclined toward the man, as if giving him permission to speak.
He did so without further prompting. “The trip will be short, relatively. I have not a need for a business partner, but I am interested in a travel companion that will make my time in the city more tolerable.”
“What sort of business do you do, sir — if, you don’t mind my asking?” Madame Lunaria’s gaze was not sharp, but it wasn’t exactly soft either when it landed on Nnerka as the question left her mouth. She shrugged minutely; it was important. She wouldn’t want to be stuck accompanying someone that sold paperweights. That would be dreadfully boring.
Harada raised a hand, a chuckle on his lips. He must have caught the look between courtesan and master. “No, I do not mind.” The man adjusted himself in his seat, so he faced the spider more than the madame. Both hands rested on his cane. “I’m in the brewing business. I believe, according to the Madame, that you’re quite a fan of the liquors and wines that my family has produced.”
It took a moment of thought before a light of recognition came to Nnerka’s eyes. “The insect wine!” The delight in her voice carried to the musical edge to her tone.
“Yes, that wine.” He seemed pleased with her enthusiasm, the spider leaned in with her full attention. “I wish to distribute outside of Kalsazi. Zaichaer, as our neighbor, would be an interesting area to get into. While they advocate certain...views, there may be a market yet.”
“I should hope so. They’ll be all the better for it.” A beat passed, then: “What sort of views does Zaichaer have exactly?”
The other two occupants of the room blinked. For as long as Nnerka had lived in Kalsazi, she had only heard a smattering of opinions about Zaichaer. Most thought to what one city thought of another did not matter to her. A city was an ephemeral construct of brick and stone that would be gone soon enough. Why should she share any concern as to what others thought of another?
Harada’s chuckle was disguised in a poorly placed cough. “They, hm. There’s a certain...disdain for the magical and perverse.”
“Insects are perfectly natural and there is nothing…'perverse’ about them.” Her rebuttal was quick, smooth. Another shrug of her shoulders followed.
Harada had to say, he much appreciated the freshness of how self-assured the spider was. A good choice on behalf of the Madame. He was not so well-versed with the courtesans of the Velvet Cabaret in the way that his sons were. Notorious gamblers, but competent businessmen where it mattered. It had been their idea to see to having someone on his arm when he attempted to make arrangements, and that it should be him to do it. A sort of respectability to the business move if he took the helm and made it seem as if the decision would be handed down to his children. He liked the sort of thought they could produce when they put their mind to it and had agreed without hesitance. It was only the matter of this aspect of their approach that he had him skeptical of how well it would work. Not so much anymore.
He turned to the Madame, brows raised and as if to voice his approval.
“As you can see.” Madame Lunaria sat up straighter in her seat. “Nnerka presents an interesting sort of...naivete that will make her plenty endearing to the crowd you wish to promote your business to. On top of that, I can assure you that she will also provide you with adequate protection just by her mere presence.”
A gesture to the fae’s frame, one that prompted a raised brow. One that was almost incredulous. Of course, the fae held her tongue toward the comment of her naivety. She was no green child, wide-eyed and innocent to the world. She knew more than they probably understood. She sniffed, turned her attention back to the Harada.
“Considering the actions of our, hm, competent leaders in Glade and how certain talks went, it would behoove you to have some sort of protection.” Madame Lunariai’s nose turned up, gaze shifting over to the Fae. “She would make an imposing figure beside you, and I do believe she has some combat experience.”
Nnerka’s brow twitched, but her smile was easy at the praise. Her experience was perhaps unconventional, but Harada didn’t look bothered by that. Maybe his smile was a touch tighter as he glanced over at the courtesan. Perhaps he was bothered by it. Her smile widened, pulling at the slits of flesh at her cheeks.
“The trip will be from the 13th of Earth’s Rest to the 31st. A...longer trip than I would like, but I need the time to gather contacts and details for potential buyers. Plus, a need to be cautious with all that — that mage business they have going on.”
Another twitch of her brow. That was probably another thing she didn’t care much for. She would learn of it in due time, maybe.
“That seems fine to me.” Another shrug to follow, the spider lounging back some to look between Lunaria and Harada. As if a breath had been released, whatever tension was in the room fled. “Would be nice to see somewhere else for a change.”
“I fear you may not like the city so much.”
“And why’s that?”
Harada chuckled once more, stood to his feet. Crow’s feet roosted by his eyes as he smiled. “They enjoy machines more than they do nature.” A beat, then: “But please; don’t let that stop you from any enthusiasm concerning travel.” He gestured to the Madame. “I will not detain you further for boring business talk, but rest assured I will be covering your travel expenses.”
“And we will see about getting you a more Zaichaeri-feeling wardrobe for the trip.”
The dismissal was clear. Standing, she nodded. “I look forward to the trip.”
