Everything in italics have been added by me for clarity and insight, everything else is directly copied from rp with @roewyn @leywalker-starsworn @zaderick @velerodra @thebuildingcacophony and @Vicajin. There was also a lot of peanut gallery chatter I did not include to keep the story focused. Indented is from Kurel’s post.
“Anyways… Im goin before it escalates t’crazy.” He told Kurel and Mav
“But she’s right. Its a manageable thing. Should you tame a tiger from Pandaria, part of you will always fear it.” Said Magistrix Demytrya as Rizzy took to appearing from the shadows, standing atop the cart, just inches in front of his sister. It was an interesting choice of words. An interesting choice of creatures, and the shadow of the tiger across his back itched in response.
Rizzy cleared his throat. Conversation continued on top of him and all around, but the monk focused most of his attention on Captain Essex, on the Ambassador, on the Magistrix.
Killian’s ears perked up when he heard Rizzy clearing his throat. His gaze fell on the man and gave a quiet nod in greeting. A smile returned briefly, then his gaze moved back to Ilyea. It was good that he had their eyes, and the monk waited patiently for their attention. Granted he knew quite a bit about what was circling around through his informants, Riz still wanted to give the pair a chance to own up to their end of the bargain, or to at least ask for what he had to offer.
He counted beats. Patient. And then tried once again to gather attention to himself.
“So. I believe.” He started out slowly. “There was some interest in a meetin with Kurel goin on. That interestin’ly enough, the magistrix ain’t got any power t’fullfill.” The monk called out clearly. He licked his lips and crossed his arms over his chest in mild irritation. He was almost tempted to let his tattoo roar for him if this did not in effect work.
“Evening, Rizzy.” Taleyreil intoned back.
Rizzy nodded, glad to finally have some amount of attention. “Would y’like to have a talk there Ambassador?”
Killian shifted his weight, scratching the back of his right ankle with his left. His gaze drifted from Taleyriel towards Rizzy, but let the Ambassador speak.
“Just away from the distraction of people who are promisin you something they absolutely cannot deliver.” As he pointed at Demytrya to ensure they knew what he was talking about. From Kurel’s mouth to his, there was absolute certainty in the monk’s mind that even given the man’s chance to cool from the clusterfuck she would be unable to make a meeting happen for the two. A meeting that Riz sincerely wanted to help with.
“With all do respect, Rizzy, you have yet to deliver.”
Rizzy raised an eyebrow, “We had a deal an it looks like y’goin round tryin t’no’ pay my reward. Makes the wonder whether you’d pay the reward for the one puttin up the posters either.”
The captain and the ambassador exchanged glances, and as much as Riz would have responded to Ilyea’s comment about the posters he had bigger fish to fry so to speak. Which Taleyriel seemed content to ignore as well.
“I cannot talk to others now?”
“We settled terms, settled location until -you- backed out, and settled on a payment schedule. How is that no’ at least good faith?”
“A failure to disclose the intricacies presented by said location could undermine your good faith. Me speaking to the Magistrix here has not put in jeopardy your reward.” The ambassador countered.
“Except I did disclose said ‘intricacies.’ And payin forward two grand in gold for Kurel’s bail, acceptin a card t’meet Kurel on her turf very much does put in jepoardy my pay.”
Demytrya glanced up at Rizzy, her expression letting him know he wasn’t helping. Her words were clipped as she offered a smile in his direction, “I asked for a show of good faith on the Ambassador’s half. He’s a man that obviously understands that no meeting with anyone of import comes without a price. His is to handle the small…” She paused, calculating how she would put it, especially with Ilyea in presence, “Kerfuffle that Kurel found himself in with the state. I’ve asked him to show that like me, he can make sure such trivial matters are set aside so that business can continue as it should.” Surely she wasn’t speaking of the row as business. Fels bells, she totally was.
That cinched it.The ‘Kerfuffle’ her own subordinate caused, when she turned Kurel in to the guards. An incident of the Magistrix making that she was demanding the Ambassador clean up, the appearance that it was his fault Kurel was there to being with, it was down right rude and bad business. Business he had thus far conducted about as transparently as the monk could, she was adding lies and backdoors to. The monk steeled himself to perhaps make a rare enemy for once. Speaking against a Magistrate was always dangerous. He could bend forever, but Kurel, Killian, Taleyriel would not. Especially two thousand gold poorer. He had Kurel at his back, Vel by his side, the pages of Sunspire in his pocket. It was time for the tiger to speak.
“Magistrix, with all do respect, you had no right making any deal on the Trade Lord’s behalf.”
Killian looked towards Taleyriel, taking a few steps towards him. He leaned in to whisper inaudibly to the rest. He nodded once finished.
Demytrya looked at Rizzy, “You can let me handle that, hmm? Unless you feel you are suited to handle such affairs between the Magistry and Sunspire?”
“I am in fact.” Fuck the magistry. That was the entire point of Sunspire. Freedom from such bureaucratic condescending manipulation. That was what all of this was for. Sunspire and Sunspire’s eternal freedom. It was a discussion that should never, and if Rizzy had anything to say about it, would never be controlled by the Magistry or any other power. They were self governed men.
Killian nodded at Taleyriel again.
“I’m sorry, I must have missed your induction into the magistry. I’ll be sure to get right on such accounts, as I would have welcomed you more formally, had I known.”
Rizzy pulled out the official paperwork of Sunspire from his pocket, “I have all the official paperwork of Sunspire’s trade connections, manifests, and legalities directly from the Purveyor’s office and the Will and Voice of the trade Lord.” He took a breath, that had come out harsher than he wanted, rilling himself up with the state of the port and its freedom, so he tried to clarify. “Sunspire is a free port. We are not, under any condition to work with or within the magistry, ma’am.”
“And I hold the proof In. My. Hand.” Oh please let that be the end of it.
“Indeed, you aren’t. Well then, it would seem my negotiations have been for naught. Forego the 2000 gold crown negotiations I asked of you, Magister. It would seem Rizzy here, has a better deal for you.”
The pair in question kept exchanging glances, and kept quiet.
“I have the -only- deal at present.” He reiterated firmly against the magistrix’s not so subtle snark, but at least she was acquiescing.
“Meet Kurel without such trivial matters being thrust upon you, as Kurel was delighted to pay such a fine.”
Or not. Clearly she was trying to goad Rizzy on the price tag. On the perception of his employer’s disgruntled reaction to the two thousand gold wasted that could have covered his jail fees. He knew better. He knew what Kurel wanted. He had for a long time now. He knew Kurel was the man that would rather blow up his own ships than see a dime from their use if it meant proving a point. Two thousand gold was but a drop in the bucket to what others had already ripped from the Trade Lord by a woman’s manipulating tongue.
You did not threaten his freedom.
“Are you certain, Magistrix?” Taleyrial piped in again finally.
“Sounds like the man blocking my view is the only deal in town Ambassador…” Vel offered and Rizzy gave her a light pat in thanks for the reassurance.
Demytrya looked up at Rizzy at that point, “Are we certain, Rizzy? He was about to see to it that Kurel’s fines be abated. Is that what you would negotiate for Kurel? That he pay the fines and meet with the Ambassador without such trivialities?
“Will Kurel rather he had the fines in lew of… well no strings.
“I suppose that is what it comes down to, Rizzy. You, after all, hold the papers.” She motioned to the papers in his hands.
Good gracious, how many ways could the man tell her she had no idea what she was dealing with before she got the point?
“The fines are none of the Ambassador’s business. How he is involved in Kurel ‘inciting someone to nudity’ I’m not certain. Nor should you be, you and I were both present for his lawless act.” He threatened. She wanted to keep talking? Fine. He would offer publicly her public humiliation and all the details he was aware of if she was not careful.
“Whoa. What?!” The Ambassador seemed to almost jump at.
Rizzy looked to Taleyriel and Killian, “She was trying to get you to pay restitution for something you had nothing to do with. So, you’re welcome.” Hopefully done with the meddling magistrix.
Demytrya laughed softly, “You think the pamphlets had nothing to do with it then? By all means. Tell Kurel your decision then Rizzy. I defer to you.”
“If you defer to me, madam Magistrix, then shut y’trap? Thank you.”
The phrase in question was apparently such a slight the magistrix would not let it go even days later. Clearly it was the rudest possible things the monk could ever say.
“How do you incite someone to nudity?” Taleyriel asked.
“He paid someone to undress.” Said Riz.
“He paid someone t’undress specifically to humiliate the magistrix here.”
Demytrya lifted a hand, a cold blast of icy air expanding from a small vortex outside of her palm towards Rizzy, meant to blast him off the cart and on to his ass if he didn’t dodge. She would have a certain amount of impudence, for sure, but his telling her to ‘shut her trap’ that seemed to be a no-no.
Killian frowned, furrowing his brow as he glanced towards the magistrix.
Rizzy had seen the wind up. The ice. The fury growing in the mage and relaxed his muscles ones by one. If this was it, he was going down fighting and making sure Vel would take none of the force of the attack. “That’s the charges he was official paying fin-” Rizzy did not dodge, and was blown all the way back, smacking into the wall hard, the air from his lungs audibly forced out with a hard grunt.
You did not threaten his people.
Killian walked towards Rizzy and held his hand out to the man. No words were said, but he gave him a nod.
Riz let out a hacking cough.
Taleyriel stared blankly into the distance as though he were in the office. Yep.
Demytrya watched as rizzy was thrown, turning to Taleyriel as if she hadn’t just blasted him in the face with 70 mile per hour winds of ice, her smile not entirely meeting her eyes. “Go ahead and go with our agreement. I’ll make sure to tell Kurel that Rizzy here fought on his behalf for you not to honor the agreement we established so Rizzy is not seen as derelict. I’ll also make sure to see to it that if he hurt his poor noggin, it’s handled, hmm?” A single pale brow lofted.
Rizzy took Killian’s hand once he could breathe again, leaning hard on him for just a moment, “Thanks”
Rizzy’s next words were quiet, pressed close to Killian in a whisper. “There is no deal. Kurel is refusing to speak with you two for now because of all this cluster. Whatever she's promising you, don't trust her. I'll work something out in the future. Don't worry about my pay. I just want t'see you two safe an sound. Also... Im gettin rid of the rocks round sunspire. I had no idea how terrible they were."
"Whatever fucking shit's happening, you will get paid. You came forward with information, even though we didn't meet. You deserve at least half for that. This whole thing is bollocks. We should speak in private. I have met Kurel before." The captain mumbled back.
"Anytime. Im here for you guys whenever y'need. Also that Ilyea lady? She's the one that made all the flyers."
"Are you certain about that?"
"Its what Kurel said, an’ the fact that she won't shut up about em lends support t'that."
"Ten thousand pieces of gold, as per my reward. Thank you for that."
Meanwhile Rizzy kept his ear perked for the ambassador and the magistrix still…
“Welcome to the row, Ambassador.”
Taleyriel gave a polite nod. “You have my gratitude,” his attention shifted towards Rizzy and Killian for a moment. The absurdity of having asked the attacker if she was fine had been entirely lost on him.
“Magistrix - to be clear, are you saying you intend to keep the deal you have no authority to make?” Vel asked considering Rizzy was still a bit winded.
“Vic if you hadn’t been sitting there being bored, you’d have known that was your cue to wisk Rizzy away in the shadows.” The magistrix shot the troll a frown.
The troll in question only replied, “I don’t do political assassinations anymore. Messy stuff.”
Rizzy did a few calculations. Killian at one side, Vel at the other, other friends and informants about the crowd hidden and in view… he was safe, but at the same time. She blatantly offered out loud to have him taken into the shadows and murdered. He would remember that.
“I’m saying the deal I was making was on behalf of a close friend. Not as an agent of Sunspire Port. He can take Sunspire Port’s deal, or mine. I am willing to bet which deal Kurel would find more to his liking. Do you challenge that?”
“Which is going to make Kurel have more faith in the magister here? Which is going to show the magisters good faith that he in in fact who and what he says he is?” Demytrya would just not stop.
“Ambassador.” Taleyriel corrected.
“Pardon, Ambassador, my apologies. At any rate, the Ambassador here gets an opportunity in my deal.”
Taleyriel gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “No need. It has been a rather energetic night.”
Ilyea pipped in “Demy is a very good friend of Kurel. She will be the best to make sure both are done well. I guarantee it.”
Except Killian knew the truth already. If Taleyriel didn't know yet, he was soon to follow.
“To show that if there is business to be had, he can handle it. He’s got the cops, as it were to make such negotiations and see them through.” the magistrix continued.
Vel shrugged, “I’d not dare challenge an all knowing magistrix… Though, I do know… somewhat - that Kurel doesn’t like deals he isn’t being told he’s a part of… which - unless you’ve manage to tell him… you have no way of knowing… I’d bet on Rizzy’s deal…”
“Oh? So perhaps we put it to the test? We could offer both deals to Kurel.”
Vel just stared at Taleyriel. Then to Demy, “wait - one moment… if we do the test - and he rejects your deal… You owe me something… hm?”
Riz remained quiet, letting the magistix blow her storm out thinking somehow her icy wind had led her to win. He quietly recalled conversations with Vel and felt more centered despite the physical bruising spreading across his skin. Given a choice, as a free man of Sunspire it was his right to choose; Riz would never be the wind.
Seriously, have you all not figured out reading this by now?
The reed bends in the wind. It does not break. But contracts do.
@shaded-hawke @kurel-andiel @tinthard @thoendran @aranyaphoenix @crimsynlotus