Open For Business – Arkadius and Menace

Another dusk, another day draws to an end in Port Ffirst. Waves stubbornly throw themselves against the rotting piers of Old Port. Menace stands atop the boardwalk, counting the ships floating by, wondering what cargo they may carry, and where to. What untold riches still awaited out there beyond Port Ffirst! But none of it would be his without proper preparation and a plan - and if there is one thing Menace loves, it is a well laid plan coming together.

Out of an alleyway, an impossibly tall Tiefling steps, quickly striding toward Menace.

"There you are, my dear friend. I've been looking all over the port for you... ahem, sort of," Arkadius grinned as he spoke to his friend, his long fangs on full display. "I heard on the grapevine you'd been calling out for me. Apologies, I've been resting up after repeated journeys between Daring Heights, Port Ffirst, Kundar... This travelling stuff really takes it out of you, I've found."

Menace pivots and beams up at Arkadius, who is a good two heads taller than him.

"Arkadius, dearest of all my friends! I know too well how all this traveling takes a toll on you. It is good to see you back in town. I had hoped to ask you for a favour..." he trails off, thinking of the best way to present his proposal before continuing "I was quite impressed by how you handled that kobold scholar Adi Al-Moqad who hired us for the Kundar expedition. Your command of the Draconic tongue is superb! As I am hoping to make the long journey to Kundar again someday, I thought it would be very beneficial if I could speak the language as well. There is much business I hope to do there. Profitable business!" His black eyes sparkle at the mention of profits "and I was hoping you might be willing to teach me?"

A smirk appears on Arkadius' face. "Ah, Kundar. That was a good trip, I am sincerely sorry I was unable to travel with you for the second expedition... We will need to catch up and talk about how that went. So, the matter at hand... Now, the best way for me to protect my own profits, of course... would be to not teach you, and instead offer my services as a translator. But I tell you what, as you are such a good friend of mine, I'll put aside my own selfishness just for you. We've known each other for more a few weeks now, and us Tieflings need to stick together, no matter the...", he gestures to the difference in height. "...Differences we encounter."

He points a hand down the boardwalk, "When were you thinking of starting your lessons, straight away? If that's the case, might I suggest we retire to the tavern and get a drink at the same time? You do know how I enjoy a drink, and it does enhance the tongue somewhat."

Menace laughs and attempts to pad Arkadius on the shoulder, thinks better of it and goes for the flank instead.

"Absolutely, let us retire to the Flourished Hook - my treat! And fear not for your profits. I may in fact have a job for you..."

Arkadius' raised eyebrow indicates his curiosity, but knows better than to ask about the details of said "job opportunities" when not in a private space.

"The Flourished Hook, that's the best idea I've heard today." He walks along, next to Menace, always smiling as they continue, not letting his curiosity get the better of him.

"I can't remember, does the Hook do cocktails, or is it one of those less-fancier places where I'll be drinking out of the driptray again? Not... that I'm complaining. One of the best drinks I have had in a long time, that driptray."

Menace's gesticulates for effect as they make their way through grimy Old Town and toward the splendours awaiting them in New Town. "Oh, they definitely do some exotic compositions there, decadent fruit wedges on the glass rims included. A little bird told me about a fascinating rumour that a renowned food critic from Faerun has recently arrived and ensconced himself at the Hook to sample the local delicacies - can you believe it?" Menace exclaims with mocking excitement "what is our town coming to? Soon there will be tourists arriving in droves, and a killing will be made on beachfront properties!" He laughs heartily, though in his mind already mulling which location might be most suitable for a new seaside Inn.

Arkadius shakes his head in disbelief. "A food critic? Huh. Perhaps we should... no, no. Ignore me," he says, shaking a hand slightly. "More beneficial maybe to leave them be, for now."

As they continued through the town, Arkadius let the curiosity slip slightly. "Are your birds... telling you anything else? I am of course always curious to hear the new goings on." He risked asking a question, fully expecting to not receive an answer.

Menace shoots him a furtive glance "there is a rumour that the Zentharim agents we pursued across the rooftops have not yet skipped town after all... But this may be a story for another time."
Arkadius' face remains stone-dead on the mention of the Zentharim agents. He had plenty of follow-up questions, none for public ears. He knew to be quiet then, and remained so between there and the tavern.

As they turn a corner, they enter the square in front of the Flourished Hook, the four-story Inn rising above its neighbours. The interior is richly decorated with tapestries, and the booths offer lavishly cushioned upholstery and enough seclusion for private conversations. Menace gestures toward the bar and as he and Arkadius take their seats, a busboy hurries over, deftly balancing a tray with two delicate, wide rimmed glasses filled with luminous liquids, one red and one blue. Both glasses are deposited at the centre of the table between them, before the boy rushes off again.

"Now then" Menace begins anew with a smile, leaving Arkadius to choose his drink, "about that job. You may have heard that I have recently expanded my business operations, taken on new hands and opened a modest shop in Old Town, the Emporium of Pre-Loved Wonders. However, the ever increasing demands on my time these days are however exhausting, and I find myself in need of assistance. I have struck a deal with an enterprising mercenary recently arrived here, Ergin Brockskutter, who is training my band of... associates, to put some steel in their spines. Once they are ready for business, I may need a Captain of Operations... a Capo if you will. Would that be of interest to you?" Menace says smiling, his black eyes offering mischief and profit in equal measure.

"A man with your magical talents is sure to impress in any negotiation veering toward the physical..."

For a moment Arkadius looks down at the two glasses, hand hovering between the two indecisively. Then his hand comes to rest on the glass with the red liquid; a steely determination sets in his eyes, and he pulls it towards him.

"Emporium of Pre-Loved Wonders, brilliant name. And Ergin! He really is a lovely fellow, I did some investigating with him just last week. There were a lot of ghouls, as it turns out. Story for another time." He smiles, and takes a quick swig from the glass, "Captain of Operations, you say. That does sound rather wonderful, actually. And would mean us working together more - that would be charming! Would give me a good reason to stay a little less... roguish than I have been in my life. Settle down, travel a little less. Give Sasha a bit of rest... Have I told you about Sasha? She was a steal!"

There is that toothy smirk again, as Arkadius lets his finger circle over the rim of the glass, the luminous red liquid beckoning. Something enticing sits at the bottom of the glass, almost obscured by the thick, cloudy liquid – a cherry perhaps, or a chicken’s heart? The large Tiefling picks up the glass, impossibly fragile between his thumb and pointer.

"Talents, yes. I find a good quarterstaff to the neck generally helps in negotiations, when it's starts to veer in that direction. People's will can be broken more easily that way, at times. And then, if things go wrong, you're in prime position to act... naturally."

Menace reaches for the remaining blue drink, lovingly caressing the plum slice that has been wedged on the rim. Arkadius has made his choice, and Menace is entirely pleased with the result.

"I knew I could count on you my friend. We understand each other."

The two Tieflings clink their glasses together and grin conspiratorially, before downing the drinks, the humdrum of the Flourished Hook around them concealing the pact made. Outside, night falls over Port Ffirst, but inside a new dawn is in the making.