I'l Fana Kelbé (The White Hart) - Reparations & Preparations [Closed}

[Katarya Frost]

"It says 'Tinwë' - my star. That's what you are to me." She explained, in a rare moment of sincerity.

She took a seat beside him, reached up and ran a finger over his brow. "So speaks the boy who was never given anything, and I am sad for that. But I hope to change it, because you deserve this. You have given much to me, probably too much, and I cannot express how much I appreciate it. Let this be the start, then."

She watched him trying it on different fingers, curing herself for not getting his ring size; but how was she to do so without giving away the surprise. When it fit well on his left hand ring finger, she raised a slender brow. "And thus the ring chose it's home." She said and laughed.

When he invoked the enchantment, she was filled by a sense of him. He felt pleased, humbled ... but she also felt from him a reservation, as if he didn't believe he was worthy of this, or any other gift. She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It is my gift to you, given without expectation, or inducing a favour owed. I just wanted you to have it, to celebrate ... well, everything!" She kissed his cheek. "You rise like a lord, and with the dignity of one, without the hubris. I like that about you."

She laughed when he remarked that she had 'undersold' the ring. "Maybe; but I am a lady, so I will be as contrary as I please, thank you very much." She put her hand over his, touching the ring. "I see that you are pleased, and that is enough for me."

[Artemis Black]

He smiled broadly at Katarya’s explaining away her vast understatement of the ring. “I’m still not sure I deserve something so grand and clearly valuable, but if it makes you happy for me to have it then I will wear and protect it as a most precious thing,” he said before leaning over to kiss her hand.

After lingering for a moment he laid his head on her shoulder and spoke softly. “Was there something else you wanted, or can I convince you to wile away the day in my arms until we can watch the stars from your bed with only your cloak to cover us?” he asked her, grinning and kissing her cheek.

A sudden thought struck Artemis and his eyes widened in excitement. “Actually, can you help me with something? I need a- uhm- tax writ. The document used to pay taxes on land rentals. One from the east district. I was hoping maybe I could look at the White Hart’s one. Supervised of course, and I’ll need help,” he said all in a rush as he realized he had another opportunity to advance his dreams.

[Katarya Frost]

The witch raised a brow. "I can set it up. Perks of being an Olbá! Though whatever rank I get I am quite sure she'll always terrify me." She gave him a long kiss. "Never take the ring off," she said. "Not until the day you love me no longer."

She took his hand and they went off to see the indomitable Elára Vae.

***

Katarya headed downstairs with Artemis behind her, and went to where Elára stood. She was talking with an Elven woman dressed in leather and carrying a bow. No doubt a contractee. Kat waited her turn, wondering if the older Elf ever got sore feet from standing there all day long, surveying this mini-kingdom with such vigilance.

When she was free, Kat stepped forward. Good day, Quimellë." She said, with a nod of her head.

Elára did not look up as she write. "What is it, Olbá?"

Kat cleared her throat. "It's about Artemis Black. He wishes to speak with you regarding ..."

"If Lassë Artemis wants to speak with me, then he has every right to do so." Elára always spoke in a quiet, commanding voice. It was near unnerving. "He has the position to do his own talking. He doesn't need you to introduce him like some prince at court, Olbá."

"Yes, Elára." It was all she could do not to curtsy. Kat turned and motioned for Artemis to step forward.

The Elven woman finished writing in her book, and turned her eyes to Artemis. "What do you require, Lassë?

[Artemis Black]

“Apologies, Quimellë,” Artemis said, managing to not stumble over the word. “I am still unfamiliar with the customs of the Hart.” He offered her a short bow of his head. He struggled to not wring his hands together, knowing what he was asking was not something that could be done without a great deal of trust. He decided it would be best to be completely open and honest about his intent.

“I am in need of access to a document, a tax writ, that belongs to a current business located in the eastern district. With this I will be able to create a modified duplicate for a different business.

Artemis closed and opened his fingers nervously before continuing. "There is a warehouse, it’s own documents lost to a collection of terrible happenstance several years ago. I wish to claim the building, pay it’s tax, and rightfully restore it to be a place of business.”

He took a short breath to settle his fraying nerves. “I will be able to duplicate the document while making the minor alterations necessary. I can promise no damage will come to the original. I accept whatever requirements you place upon me for access to the paper."

"It need be only visual, though delicate handling would make things quicker," he offered to forestall an immediate denial. "In exchange I offer my services in duplication for up to three documents as you deem acceptable.” He looked to the elf, his intentions laid bare and his offer on the table. He hoped he wasn’t about to be stripped of his rank and tossed out on his backside.

[Elára Vëa]

Elára stood silent for a while, her sharp eyes fixed on Artemis as she thought. Eventually she spoke up. "This sounds most beyond the realms of law ... which is hardly an issue." she said at last. Then began to sort through the mass of books and parchments in front of her before pulling forth a long document, complete with a wax seal of House Lericyro. "You may use this as a template, but it is not to leave these premises. If you intend to duplicate it, I suggest you make it clear that you are not an honest tavern, and tailor it to your needs. Should you need assistance, I suggest you seek aid from on of the other staff. As for your offer, it shall be considered, and will be called upon in due course, no doubt. But, I am very busy." She turned her eyes from him, and began to sort through her mountain of documents. "That's all." She said, dismissively.

When he moved away from the Quimellë, Katarya gave him a quizzical raise of her brow. "Did that go as expected? What is the plan now? She asked.

[Artemis Black]

Artemis blinked slowly before accepting the tax writ. He wasn’t certain exactly what he had been expecting, but to simply be handed the document was not something he’d considered. He stepped away from the imposing elf and carefully handed the seal marked document to Katarya. “No, it did not,” he responded to her question before giving himself a small shake. “I need to go get my kit, and bring it over I guess. Can you stay here with this for around an hour? I feel like handing it back just to return wouldn’t go well,” he added before shaking his head again trying to wrap his head around what had just happened.

When she accepted he made his way out of the White Hart and moved across the street to somewhat jerkily scale the building. Once atop the roof, he started to run towards the south. It would take him around an hour to get to his hidden home and back if he kept a good pace. The entire time he ran he thought wildly about what he was doing. He was taking a huge leap forward. If he did this right he could bribe the tax office to accept the contract for less than a gold, keep his remaining gold to handle the initial buildout, and suddenly he’d have a functioning workspace.

As he neared the roof of his building he slowed to catch his breath. No sense in breaking his neck inside the damaged upper floors. When he could he preened at the ring Katarya had given him again. It was so beautiful, the way it sparkled in the light. He made his way through the roof access and into the hidden basement. Rummaging through his pile of boxes with the utmost care. When he’d found all of his tools he touched the ring and thought the activation word.

He was not caught off guard as the flicker of his love appeared. He drank in her beauty however brief and let the feeling of his fingers in her hair calm him. He let the spell fade, gave himself a shake, and moved back up to the building’s roof. His pace returning was slower, but still much faster than if he’d been forced to take the winding streets.

He slipped down off the cross-street building and calmly walked into the White Hart carrying two satchels, a latched writing desk, and a hard leather tube. Artemis had managed to balance everything by moving carefully and keeping a firm grip on the free hanging pieces. He made his way over to the table Katarya had settled into and settled his equipment. Then he plopped down next to her and began setting out all of the necessary pieces he would use to recreate the document in its entirety.

After several quiet moments of concentration and half-murmured checks he looked to Kat. “So, care to read over this with me? I need to know what each piece means and then we can figure out what has to change,” he said with an excited smile. He imagined this was going to be somewhat boring for her, but it was something he excelled at and it always felt good to do well.

[Katarya Frost]

As Artemis made his way back into the Hart, Kat glanced up, eyeing the contents of his hands. This looked like it would be intricate work!

When he asked for her help, she gave it willingly. Of course, there were other things she might want to be doing with her time, but he looked so enthused and creating a proper business would give him some standing. She wondered what kind of competition he'd come up against, though she supposed it would have to do with what he was going to be wanting to achieve with his own work-space.

"I'd be happy to," she said, and set the contract out. "Well, first we need to take out all the clauses relating to an inn or tavern ... it depends on what you want your business to be. What do you actually want to create?" She asked, while he set up.

[Artemis Black]

Artemis nodded at Kat’s first question. “A freeman’s hall. A place for the unaffiliated, by choice or circumstance, that they might work without the worry of moving their goods and tools from place to place. The requirements are minimal as each letter would be required to ensure their own licensing and regulation. I would only need to ensure the space was clean, safe, and protected by the law. Though the fee is higher than normal, it works out given I do not need to have the complete documents to open the floor to works that require no license,” he said as if he’d practiced this particular conversation many times before.

He looked over the paper, recognizing almost none of the words, given they were written in the finely detailed governmental script. He pointed to the word for lawful. “I know this one, it’s the bit the guards abuse to muss things about if you don’t pay protections,” he said, frowning slightly. “I’ll need to figure out what gang to allow into the area. Not going with the vipers, and the skulls are too weak,” his words faded off as he began to consider before shaking himself to refocus.

“I have an idea that will make this simpler,” Artemis said and pulled out a broad tipped pen and spent a few brief moments working at a blank sheet of rough parchment. When he’d finished he had a duplicate of the document with all the words turned into appropriate length dashes. “Let’s start at the top, we can mark the parts that need to change here, and then go from there.” He listened intently as Katarya walked him through the words, making quick notations on his scratch document.

When they’d finished marking all the areas that needed simple replacement, and several that could simply be removed entirely, Artemis put down his pen and rolled his neck to stretch. “I think we should take some time, I know I’m growing a bit cross-eyed and I can’t imagine you’re doing much better,” he said, chuckling as his stomach growled softly in complaint. “Maybe some food, and we can relax a little. Perhaps you’ll be able to get through more of your book after this droll practice,” he said, giving her a smile and a quick kiss.

[Katarya Frost]

Kat absently played with the end of her braid as they hashed out the details. It was not foreign to her to deal with this kind of thing; she had had to have her grandmother's writ changed after her death after-all, though forging a completely new document was quite different. She read it through carefully so he might take it all in; he'd need to know it inside and out.

"When you hand this in, it might be best if someone who could read went with you, just case your asked to sign anything else, or if they want to question you on it ... I doubt they would, but you don't want to be caught unprepared."

When he called a halt for lunch, she nodded enthusiastically, calling for the ever-present Raya. "May we have whatever the kitchen has prepared?" She asked. It was still early and the full range of rather basic food stuffs would not necessarily be available. "Hanta" She said.

Turning back to Artemis: "How much rent would you be asking for? I wondered, as I would like to have somewhere I can start alchemy again for my healer role. I am having to purchase every medicine needed, rather than make them myself. The higher ups here have made it clear that making my own on the premises is not an option."

[Artemis Black]

Artemis nodded absently at her suggestion as he double checked his sizing and notation on the scratch version of the document’s word spacing. “I’d appreciate if you came along if you’re available. It would be nice to have someone who understands the intent without having to read anyone else into things. Less chances the basket comes up sideways that way,” he said as he scratched out a marker for a word and nodded.

“I’m thinking something reasonable but lower. Particularly to begin with as I’m more interested in getting reliable people in than leaving things to sit empty. You’d be completely welcome, I might even know someone who can get you a good discount if you ask right,” he said to her with a conspiratorial wink. “I would ask if you were making anything particularly fragrant that you do so with a mind to the windows. No sense in having one alchemist drive everyone else away,” he added with a chuckle.

“Actually, let me show you something,” he said, pulling out another scrap piece of parchment and setting to work sketching out a rough map of the warehouse and future plans. There were two floors but he concentrated on the first. The design called for a layout with thin halls between workspaces. “These areas work like a market, each workspace can have a storefront of sorts where they take orders, handle money, and pass over goods. Workspaces can be easily combined or seperated with some heavy wooden walls. The entire area can even be shifted around to change in a short while,” Artemis went on excitedly.

The food arrived and he ate while showing and explaining to Katarya the plans he’d considered for implementing the best opportunities for the renters as he could manage without spending all his coin on fixed heavy stone walls. “Even better, several of these other buildings that face the work yard, which can also be setup and changed around, are likely possible to buy out. Local housing and storage, without having to go across the district,” he said beaming before stuffing a piece of delicious food into his mouth and washing it down with ale.

When they’d finished eating and he’d explained himself out he returned to the document. He felt comfortable with the marking exclusions and was ready to move on to drafting the in-place replacements. He reached into his satchel and pulled out a sheaf of official looking documents. Almost all of them were in the same finely detailed style as the tax writ. To a forger’s luck the government scribes were very consistent.

“Looking at these, we need to find the appropriate words on any of the documents that match the style, and then I can copy them onto this scratch. Once that’s done I make a first pass copy, you approve, then I make the final in the good ink,” he said pointing at a few sealed vials of slightly shimmery ink. This was one of the more tedious parts of duplication, and so he was happy to answer questions or simply snuggle Kat to pass the time.