❝ The answer’s gonna be the same, Kaufman. ❞
He too would offer a witty grin. The female leader was wiser than she let on — and Yuri was aware of this. Although, did that mean he wouldn’t play along? No, of course he would.
❝ And just why is the boss of Fortune’s Market in town, anyway. ❞
"Too bad." A pause followed where redhead adjusted glasses frames.
"I go where the business is, and currently, business is here. Not that you couldn't have guessed that." Further details would only be given upon further questioning, as was due to her nature.
"That sounds like a good plan to me."
"In any case, my gratitude was not my sole reason for stopping by. I believe that a while ago, someone from Fortune’s Market submitted a proposal for rebuilding Aspio…? I wanted to double-check the proposed plan with you before showing it to the Council, if that’s alright with you."
"Ah, right, Aspio. Well, those mages can't stay in Halure forever, so after having a talk with some of them, I thought it'd be best if they had a place their own again, for the sake of everyone else's sanity. Double check anything you'd like."
19: Lost in the middle of nowhere, our muses meet each other in an abandoned shack out in the woods.
The redhead was in quite the foul mood. Lost in the woods was hardly what the woman would call productive, and she thoroughly did not enjoy the experience. This was an inconvenience she could do without.
Haughty steps brought the guildwoman into a clearing around a dilapidated shack. Her steps slowed, as hazel eyes scoured the opening, looking for sign of monsters. Not seeing any, she proceeded towards the building, gait taking her past overgrown weeds. A gloved hand pushed open the slightly ajar door, rusted hinges squealing out into the relative silence.
The inside was hardly any better than outside—dust covered nearly every surface, and furniture was in an extreme state of disrepair. Amidst the dilapidation, however, was a sight unexpected to see.
"Reid—? Fancy meeting you here. Wouldn’t know how to get back to civilization, would you?"
'Miss Kaufman? what are you doing here? I thought you didn't do dirty work?' If anything Reid was simply dumbfounded by the sight of her in somewhere like this.
'I think so yeah, just follow me' Reid grabs his axe and makes his way out of the shack towards the woods.
"I don't." The reply was curt, and flat, full of annoyance at the current situation. Kaufman let out a sigh, one hand raising to rub at her temples. Upset as she was, it wouldn't do anything to blame Reid for something he'd had no hand in.
"Sorry--I was coming in from Dahngrest when the shipment I was with was attacked by monsters. I ended up way out here." She pushed back her bangs before following the male out. "How long 'til we get somewhere?"
'It's nice to meet you miss Kaufman, though i wish it were under better circumstances' Reid follows Kaufman to her guild.
"Circumstances aren't always in our control, so don't bother worrying about it. If you keep up that glum mood, you'll depress me, sheesh." The redhead stopped walking, pausing in front of the well-sized building of her guild's headquarters. "Welcome to Fortune's Market HQ."
20: My muse grabs yours and kisses them passionately.
So there might have been a tad bit of alcohol introduced during the latter half of a meeting in Dahngrest amidst the Union, and certain intoxicated bets might have been made as well. Being one to never refute a challenge, the redhead had indulged in a few petty bets and dares amongst the gathered group.
"Hey--Raven, 'mere for a second."
The redhead's voice was only slightly on the slurred side of things. Alcohol flow had merely been enough to enhance natural competitiveness, and help drop a portion of the composed professionalism the woman generally carried. Lips curved up into a sly smile, while fingers beckoned for the guild man to get closer.
When distance between two was closed, Kaufman's arms were draped over Raven's shoulders. In the same movement, she'd brought her lips to the man's, indulging in a somewhat enthusiastic if not moderately sloppy kiss. That bet and that Gald, were hers.
19: Lost in the middle of nowhere, our muses meet each other in an abandoned shack out in the woods.
The redhead was in quite the foul mood. Lost in the woods was hardly what the woman would call productive, and she thoroughly did not enjoy the experience. This was an inconvenience she could do without.
Haughty steps brought the guildwoman into a clearing around a dilapidated shack. Her steps slowed, as hazel eyes scoured the opening, looking for sign of monsters. Not seeing any, she proceeded towards the building, gait taking her past overgrown weeds. A gloved hand pushed open the slightly ajar door, rusted hinges squealing out into the relative silence.
The inside was hardly any better than outside--dust covered nearly every surface, and furniture was in an extreme state of disrepair. Amidst the dilapidation, however, was a sight unexpected to see.
"Reid--? Fancy meeting you here. Wouldn't know how to get back to civilization, would you?"
'…thank you, please show me the way miss?…miss?…sorry I don't think we've fully introduced yet, sorry my names Reid Hershel.'
"Oh, of course. The name's Kaufman, the head of the merchant guild, Fortune's Market. In case I haven't made it clear, my guild handles trade throughout the world, so we do a little bit of everything. My guild's HQ is this way."
After a quick gesture to follow, Kaufman turned her back on the docks of the harbor and began taking the stairs up to Torim's main street and turned towards the building that housed her guild's center of operations.
Shenanigans! Send me '♦♦♦' and I'll randomly generate a number between 1 and 23 to see what our muses are up to!
Send at your own risk.
"You make a good point. " she replied as she followed the other woman.
"It's just one of the many things that make Fortune's Market a worldwide presence." Modesty? Never. "Here--we'll be tasting at my headquarters."
'Sorry i'm still a little new to this, please forgive my ignorance… I think i'll need a weapon…so i guess i'll need that loan.'
"You can stop apologizing any time now. It's okay to not know things. Now, why don't you come to my office, and we can discuss the terms of our agreement?"
Well it certainly wasn’t a random visit. Raven didn’t often come and visit the wild guilds woman with out a reason. ”Just a delivery from HQ. Got a letter here for ya, dunno what its about though.” Raven reached into his jacket before plopping the envelope onto an empty space of the womans desk to do as she pleased with. ”Maybe it’s a secret admirer, heh.”
"Secret admirer? If that's the case, you can just sign your name next time. No need for childish games between adults, hm?"
Kaufman gave a low chuckle at the joke before turning framed lenses downward, to delivered letter. More likely the contents were something regarding recent changes in politics and trade agreements, or a request of some sort. Papers of different natures hardly ever passed across her cluttered desk, after all. Were it really some 'secret admirer', she'd likely not know what to do.
"I suppose I should thank you for coming all the way out here."
'Sorry… I think i'll do the component option… do i need to sign anything?' Reid continued to hold his head down, still feeling a flustered.
"Oh? I don't usually sign on people for that. It's more of an independent job--or something more the work of another guild, like the Hunting Blades. Fortune's Market'll pay well for most things--and if you need a loan to get started, for equipment and such, well, we can talk."