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 Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:44 pm
Uki plays with Ako for a moment, while she keeps one eye on her father. Her smile widens as he helps to grab the falling package. It seemes today was a double-dose of good fortune, judging from the smell wafting from the partially open bundle. Daddy, she asserted to nobody in perticular, has a good eye for this sort of thing. Even if the merchant was a bit unfriendly, his charming manner would surely convince the man to be helpful, especially after helping him like that!
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:29 pm
The man shrugs a little and shakes his head. "Well, he just a roommate. I suppose we are friends. I don't think we have fought before."
He seems eager to change the subject, though, and addresses Reiga's other questions. "I sell silk, mostly. But it looks like there is incense in this shipment. Probably spices, too." Eyeing the man, the merchant lifts the fallen bundle experimentally, and adds, "I mean no offense, sir, but this is a bit heavy.... And we have only just met. Not that I do not trust you but- I am not used to the offer from a stranger."
Chourou steps forward then, bowing to the human as well as she can with Ako still in her arms. "I am a military woman where I come from, sir. I could bend my back for you if you require it." She offers her daughter to Reiga, but also tells Uki that she can let Ako walk with her if the older girl wishes to hold her hand for a little while.
The human bites back the urge to tell the family that they are only holding him up now, and decides to just accept the offer of help. However he mentions, "It would seem perhaps you need some help yourselves. Wishing to place me in debt to you?" He does not sound offended or upset by the idea of it, though, just... pointing it out.
Ako kicks her feet a little and projects that she would like down if Mommy is not going to carry her.
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:52 am
Reiga laughs as he takes Ako, then hands her down to Uki. It is a pleasant laugh, amused and gentle. Privately, Reiga thinks the man is surely a shrewd businessman. The Porcelain appreciates how this trader does not seem upset by the idea of being placed in their debt... which Reiga is a little uncertain of how to deal with, actually. For a moment.
"Sir," Reiga says, "I realize it must look like that, and you would be correct. We are indeed in a bit of trouble and need some help. Though, I do wish to point out, that our intentions were honorable. You did look like you needed help, and we do truly wish to help you," a mischevious grin played across his face, "and if you would be able to help us in return, we would sincerely appreciate it."
He laughs again, this time a bit louder and more at himself, "Truly, we are holding you back from your destination, and have been doing so for a while. You must be terribly frustrated with us. I would be. Come sir, please allow us to accompany you and at least hear our story. My spouse is not just a military woman, but one of the finest," Reiga's manner changes to one of reverence as he talks about her. Humbly, he adds, "and I, though by no means great in strength, offer my services, however I may."
"Since you are not used to offers of help from strangers, you may think of it as a business transaction. We shall work for your company, in repayment for having kept you from your destination." Reiga finishes with an expertly executed bow, rising with a look on his face that is both amused and wistful.
Oh, how I miss my business back home, already. Still, it is refreshing to know that there are people, intelligent people, for me to do business with here in this new world, he thinks.
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Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:24 am
Uki takes her sister's hand as her father sets her down. She will mostly let Ako wander about, though she will keep them close to their parents. What does Ako want to look at?
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:37 pm
The merchant prince stares down his nose at the Porcelain male and frowns at him, considering for a moment. Then he lifts the fallen bundle and hands it to Chourou.
"I will tell you that some weather has been messing up the timing of my shipments of goods from home, so that right now, I am receiving more than I can handle," he tells them. "What is it you need?"
Chourou shoulders the parcel, shifting the weight a little to get it balanced and more or less comfortable. It is heavy, but she is able to handle it.
"We just arrived here in Gaia, somewhat unexpectedly, and need a place to stay," she tells him. "Just until we can get ourselves established." The woman bites her lip, giving off a reassuring feeling to her family to conceal her own slight worry. Regardless of how she feels about having to ask for help, though, the truth remains that all of them need something. The Knight just hopes that the human will respond favorably.
She privately wishes she had been able to see her estate with Reiga just once more before coming here.
The man glances between the two adult Porcelain, rubbing his forearms through his thick sleeves. "A place to stay," he repeats before whistling to the camel and continuing down the sidewalk.
"I have not seen any of your kind before, so I do not know how you like this idea," he begins after a long moment. "But assuming you are honest, I have the means to give you a place to live, if you would be willing to work for me until the debt is repaid."
The Knight follows after the man, glancing at Reiga. For the sake of her family, she is willing to stoop to servitude. She owes them all no less. Him especially. If he does not wish to bend knee to the human, Chourou will work for both of them.
Ako peers up at Uki briefly, then sticks her fingers in her mouth again and follows her mother, walking on her own.
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:58 pm
Reiga considers the human's proposal. He does not like the idea of servitude at all, but he also realizes it may be the only way open to them for now...
"What sort of work," Reiga asks, "and what sort of place do you have in mind? Realize, sir, that I do not wish to offend, but it is always best for both parties to understand all terms of a contract before signing," he smiles, trying to get a sense for what sort of man this human is.
What exactly did this stranger have in mind for his family? True, at this point no price was too high if it meant a place to live, but Reiga would not willingly consent to signing his family into slavery. Best to know exactly what was in store for them from the start.
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:27 pm
Uki walks with her sister, glancing between Reiga and the merchant. What did Daddy think this man was like? He seemed to be a merchant, but he was bigger than Setsushi, and Setsushi was gigantic. What kind of merchant needed to have such wide shoulders, anyway?
Uki hopes that this man's business isn't dangerous in some way. Mommy knows how to fight, but...she bites her lip slightly for a moment and then tries to be quiet. Daddy knew what he was doing, after all.
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:08 pm
Akram glances between the two adults, wondering with whom he should be settling this deal - being a patriarch himself, he is used to dealing with other men, but the man seemed to defer to the woman at times. ... The man had said he was a merchant in his homeland, though, and so Akram settled on speaking to him. A faint smile forms on the young man's face as he pauses for about a pace to allow the Porcelain man to catch up, so he can walk alongside of him.
The human rests a hand on Reiga's shoulder, seeming somehow a bit more relaxed as the talk turns to contracts and such. "I live in a sort of student apartment building right now with a roommate. All the apartments there are the same - a kitchen and living space, a bathroom, and two bedrooms," he begins, plotting the details in his mind as he speaks. "I can rent a second one... probably for as long as I remain enrolled at the school, and you all can have it to yourselves.
"In return, I could use hands to help carry shipments from home when they arrive, and on weekends, as well, when I do business at the local market." Akram looks over to Chourou again to see how she is faring with the large bundle, then peeks over his shoulder at the children. "Or, well, the market is closed for the winter, but I could find some work sorting and unpacking and such for you in the meantime. Maybe I can think up something for your older girl, as well."
Chourou finds herself unable to avoid being faintly irritated that the human is discussing the arrangement with her husband and not with her, but also reminds herself that Reiga really is much more knowledgeable about these sorts of things. The Knight tells him after a long moment that she will allow him to handle this negotiation himself, and will intervene only if he needs her to do so.
When Akram spares a glance back to her, Chourou smiles back and assures him with a feeling of strength that she is just fine. Then she asks Uki privately if she would want to help the human, provided of course, that whatever tasks asked of her are safe and within her ability.
"Dangerous business?" Akram repeats, picking the thought from the air and wondering where it had come from, like the scent of someone's barbecue some blocks away. "Like I said, I am just a cloth and spice merchant-"
With a tiny yelp of surprise, Ako trips over an uneven spot in the sidewalk. She manages to catch herself just fine, and did not have terribly far to fall in the first place, but she still gives off a little feeling of ouch! and stops to sniffle and examine her scuffed-up palms crying
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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:44 pm
Reiga stiffens as the man touches his shoulder, unprepared for the gesture. Unsure of what human business transactions are like, Reiga permits this small breach in propriety and allows himself to relax as well. Chourou's support is very much appreciated, and very helpful.
Reiga assumes a student apartment building is a building of small dwellings that students live in... though what sort of school they attend is beyond the Porcelain. The space sounds small, though it might be reasonable for their purposes at the moment. "I should like to see the, ah, apartment, before any agreement is reached," Reiga firmly states. Never hand over money until you've inspected the goods.
Now for the interesting part. "And you would require nothing from us but manual labor?" Reiga raises a skeptical eyebrow, "what would the terms of this labor be?" He forces himself to maintain an air of relaxed professionalism as the human looks at Uki, even though he doesn't like it - at all.
Ever the picture of business, he seems to pay no attention to Ako, giving the human a quick grin and a shrug. "She will be fine," he says, "Now, about this labor you have in mind. Let us be specific."
Privately, he projects a feeling of reassurance to Ako, hoping she is not seriously hurt. He would probably do something silly to try and make her laugh, were he not in the middle of a business transaction.
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:39 pm
gonk Uki scrambles to help Ako get back up. Is she ok? The older girl takes her sister's hands gently, looking at her scuffed palms. It looks like they should probably be washed, she thinks. She then gives her sister a hug. Sorry!
She then glances up at Regia. Uhm...what does he mean? Uki doesn't really see how she could be of much help, especially with carrying things. sweatdrop
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:19 am
Sniffling, Ako gets to her feet again with her sister's help and gingerly brushes her hands off on her tunic. The girl seems a tad ambivalent about Uki's hug, but quieted down anyway as felt reassurance from her parents as well.
... Once they're inside, though, Ako wants Mommy to kiss her hands and make them better.
The human slowed a bit for several paces, glancing back a couple times to be sure the little girl would be alright. Seeing that neither of the parents wanted to stop, though, Akram shook off the distraction and turned his attention back to the Porcelain man.
"You said you were an incense merchant back in your homeland?" he asked, rubbing his short beard a little with one knuckle. "So you can help me sell what I have if you like. Learn to do business here in Gaia. Your wife and daughter as well, if they do not mind." Akram realized as soon as he spoke that he was not sure he had yet heard the older girl speak. "I certainly require manual labor, as well." After a moment, he added, "I must apologize, I am not trying to be vague, but I really do not know what all I will require when. I am used to simply having hands available when I find I need them."
He was quiet for a moment, then pointed ahead to a building perhaps a block or so off. "There is the apartment. If you will follow me in to help carry things, I can show you my room quickly. All of them have the same layout"
Chourou was a bit wary of the idea of entering the human's home on principle, but that was likely her tactical mind overthinking the situation. She would remain vigilant, but let Reiga know that she was willing to trust him if he truly could provide them with a place to stay.
First, however...
"If we are to enter your home, sir, would you know our names first?" the Knight asked, starting to sound a bit out of breath from hauling the large parcel. "I am Chourou."
"Oh, of course, forgive my rudeness," the human said, slowing again to acknowledge the Porcelain woman. "I am Akram Mercier, patriarch of my family."
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Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:08 pm
Reiga inclines his head. "Master Akram, I am Reiga," he says, a bit unsure of the human's last comment. It seemed to imply a certain status, but Reiga simply is not sure what being a patriarch of a human family entails.
"When we see the apartment, perhaps we will be able to reach some more certain terms," the Porcelain continues, "I understand that you do not mean to be vague," he smiles, "but I prefer to be as specific as possible. I appreciate the opportunity you offer for me to learn the business practices of Gaia, but I must act with my family's best interests in mind. We will be able to make a more reasonable decision once we see more clearly what you offer."
To Chourou, he sends a thankful thought - I do not think this human will do us harm, but should something happen I am thankful that you will be there... Is it becoming too heavy?
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:14 pm
Uki opens her mouth to try and say something, but immediatly reconsiders and instead suggests that perhaps Mommy or Daddy should introduce them. Uki would try, but she thinks she would just make a fool of herself.
She moves on to mention that she might like to learn a little about business interactions. Though she is sure that Daddy knows everything there is to know about such things, ever! Daddy is great like that.
On the other hand it might be a chance for Uki to practice writing and math? She should really be starting that, she opinions. Or perhaps it might be better for her to work with the other adult Porcelain? Maybe one of them has some books of poetry. That would be nice...Uki trails off as she helps her sister follow the adults towards the apartment building.
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:21 pm
Chourou assures Reiga with mock indignation that she is just fine carrying parcel. This part of merchants' work, at least, the Knight can handle.
She then introduces Ako and Uki aloud to the human, pausing a moment to glance back at the girls to be sure they are keeping up. Hopefully somewhere someone has some Porcelain poetry for Uki to read. And Gaian math should be no different from their own, except perhaps for how things are represented, no? Hopefully it will not be too terribly difficult to see to the girls' proper education so long as they are here. Although with any luck, the stay will not be long anyway, so Uki will have little chance to fall behind.
After a few more minutes' walk, the human leads the Porcelain and his camel across the street and up to the door of his apartment. Then he touches a code into the pad of numbers beneath the doorknob and tugs the door open, holding it as he motions everyone inside. Akram assures the concierge that the visitors will not be too long, and directs the Porcelain towards the pair of small elevator doors just inside the apartment's small lobby, across from the mail slots.
Then he takes the other parcels from the camel, leaving the creature waiting obediently by the concierge's counter. The man on the other side of it leans out slightly to offer the creature a cracker once he thinks that Akram is no longer watching.
Ako wanders closer to study the camel once they are inside, but squeaks with fear when the creature looks at her, and runs back to watch it from behind her mother's legs.
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Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 2:29 pm
Reiga moves very quickly through the door, pausing once he is inside to glance back and ensure his family is safe. The numbers obvioulsy had something to do with the opening of the door, but he has no idea what it could be. It is certainly a strange ritual. What was the point? He inclines his head in a brief respectful greeting to the man behind the counter (probably a guard of some sort), and swiftly moves in the direction Master Akram tells him to.
The strange metal doors seem closed tightly, with no visible means of opening them. Perhaps there is something one must push, like the numbers on the door?
The Porcelain chuckles a little at Ako's sudden squeak. This place is very odd, and I am likely to make a similar sound if I am not cautious, he thinks privately.
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