With the departure of all other parties, Iden allowed his shoulders to sag and his posture to relax. Standing so rigid did not come without its share of difficulties, even if he was free of biological concerns such as pulse or breathing. Just like Roan, he heaved an exhalation of breath as part of his release of tension.
Gawdamn.
He stepped clear of Roan's side to skirt the puff of her own breath, and keep cleared from the smoke he knew she would be indulging in. Sure, he couldn't contract cancer, but the smell of her cigarettes still smelled a bit too strong for his liking. It left him two chairs up the table, where one of the forsworn had been seated. Sure, their odor lingered on after their departure, but the seat was comfortable enough for him to sink into in the wake of the meeting. Let Bravot's minion see him sag into the cushion all she liked; his need of appearances had diminished with the librarian's departure.
Roan cut Iden's enjoyment of the seat short when she turned matters back to business. He wasn't surprised, nor did he express any dismay. Rather, he straightened back from his slouch, and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table. With his right hand he tapped at the table across all four fingertips, tapping out a quiet cadence to match his moment of consideration.
Alright. Starting with the group I know best...well staged and well played. Recognizing the free favor for what it was is a solid opening move to working with Bravot, not least of which because it set the tone for future dealings.
The fingers came to rest as he paused in his thoughts. He mulled for a second, then used his elbow as a pivot to raise his hand, palm up in a gesture of consideration for his thoughts.
I think perhaps you could have bartered for more considering what was put on the table on our end, but the lack of binding contract is a nice touch. Most importantly, though, I appreciate the choice to leave distribution in another's hands. That cleans our hands of a great deal of risk.
He lowered his hand back to the table. There was little he had else to say in the matter, as a detailed play by play of her every word seemed excessive. Instead he glanced at the chair opposite his own, where Shinji had been seated.
Speaking of other hands...the merchant seems able, though some of his efforts seem questionable. For one, his lack of aid or even a notepad is disconcerting. True, the details of his contract are available and on paper, but it seems almost cocky to assume one's presence enough to guarantee recollection of all arrangements and deals. Just having a piece of paper and pen to write it down on would have given over a bit of credibility to his seat, showing he was fully prepared for the arrangements being made.
Iden's gaze returned to Roan, then drifted to Venom. He nodded to the newest addition to their cohort, and raised both arms in a shrug.
Contrast it with both other representatives. We have a scribe dedicated to recording not only our deal, but everyone else's. Similarly the third party had numbers, though I'll get to them in a moment. One thing mister Shinjiko did have was he did not overstate his own presence. Very wise to not try to overplay one's own notion of importance as a guest. He didn't seem to catch the nature of Bravot's offer, but equally I suspect he had more to gain by taking a piece of the pie than we did. I would keep an eye on him, as I suspect he has a play yet to be made. The nature of that play will cement whether his move on signing such a lopsided contract was carefully planned or wholesale foolish. Either way, as the distributor he makes a convenient buffer to our own involvement in this operation. So long as he isn't incompetent, which I doubt he is, then we should be able to at least keep things on the positive side while our commitment lasts.
Both arms sank back to the table. He folded them over one another, once again resting their elbows on the fine boardroom furniture. It was here his head sagged, and he heaved a sigh. That same sigh evolved into a chuckle devoid of mirth.
And then there's the third party. Ho boy.
His shoulders rolled with the chuckle. He allowed himself a few seconds pause before choking off further humorless laughter. There was an assessment to make, so he lifted his gaze back to Roan and pointed to the four chairs each Forsworn had been seated in, one after the other with an idle sweep of his arm.
Forsworn, four people. One for each of the most commanding seats around the table. Perhaps they weren't expecting company; certainly we weren't much more than a last minute addition. But if they had expected even Shinjiko to arrive then they're already playing a highly aggressive push for their own authority by shunting him to a lesser seat at the table. I can see the logic in doing so if they had left it at such a subtle gesture. The problem is, that's something I would expect from a professional organization utilizing equally professional skilled negotiators and representatives. People who understand the proper dignity and gravity of major meetings between influential people.
Iden threw up his arms in resignation as he tried to muster the words to describe his thoughts. It was not easy going.
It was like watching a three ring circus. Trying to goad one of the other guests so crudely is an insult to the host. Being unable to control your hangers on is similarly disreputable, especially when one leaps over the table to breach conduct so grossly by landing in a guest's lap. Kudos to Shinjiko for not letting that get a rise out of him. Having the audacity to try and boast about your assets, resources and armies while this goes on? They must outsource incredibly well, because any army run in such a lackadaisical manner is begging to be routed by an underequipped force half their size. For the amount of effort they spent playing up their own abilities and means, they were duped wholesale into paying Bravot for allowing them to pay him, and are contractually bound to his service. While Shinjiko I believe has a motive and plan, these fools I suspect are too puffed up on their own arrogant self importance to realize just how foolish they have been.
He was getting long winded. Though not allowing himself to get worked up on the matter, there was no hiding just how incredulous he was about the subject of his diatribe. It was something that boggled his mind. He punctuated each point by stabbing his finger in the air, tracing out the placement of each event as it transpired with near total accuracy. Then, finally, his outstretched digit fell on the space where Bravot's likeness had been.
The host of this soiree chose his guests well, I think. Bravot is not someone I would deal with lightly in the wake of this meeting, as he has set up quite the menagerie. This isn't a council he's forming. It's a monarch's court cunningly disguised as something it isn't. He pulled in a quartet that have sworn their allegiance to him thinking they retain some foolhardy notion of autonomy in this 'council', a distributor with the skills and motivation to begin drawing together assets on the ground, and then us. Likely he knew we wouldn't be so easily drawn into his web as vassals, but as a businessman he knows the value of capable associates. We remain outside his power structure, while still feeding it.
As Iden spoke, his outstretched finger opened into a broad palm. There wasn't any accusation being thrown at the absent visage, but instead a calm assessment steeped with a healthy degree of professional respect. He didn't mind that his words were no doubt to be brought to Bravot's attention in due time; Iden was speaking only things the librarian would have already known.
He has insurance against his minions that can shred their credibility. He has assets, appearance, and the calm demeanor of someone who knows the boardroom well. Most of all, he knew how to exude his dominance in unspoken ways. The library, the technology, the capable guide and messenger, the selling his request for a favor as if it was him paying out. I don't know; I think if I reincarnate as a pencil pusher I'll need to read his book.
Iden brought his hand back, folding its fingers with those of his other limb. His assessment given, he nodded shortly to Roan.
It's quite the web you've brought us to.
And then, as an afterthought, purely from his mind to hers...
.: I trust you to keep us from being the fly to Bravot's spider. This city is not a good place for us. :.
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