RP:A Trial Basis

Part of the The Dust Up In Cenril Arc

Summary: Meri meets Eleanor and Leoxander at The Office.

The Office, Cenril

Evening in the city of Cenril was not a place that anyone wanted to be, especially for those who need to travel through the seedier places of the city. Which is exactly what the tattoo artist was doing for her worn in black leather boots were taking her step by step closer to The Office. The first time she was here was during the off hours/during the day time and the vibe and feel of the establishment was bound to be vastly different. Her tattooed right hand reaches forward to grasp the entrance of the strip joint and in the blonde goes, blue eyes doing a quick sweep of the room out of habit to take in the details of who who with whom (even though most faces were strangers to her), and where they were seated. Ultimately, Meri is not here for the dancers. Women just didn't happen to catch this woman's attention in particular. Now if we got Magic Mike up in this joint....Ahem. Back to the point. Tonight Meri was here for one purpose and with one goal in mind: to meet Hudson's distro girl. Meri had no name to go off of, nor any physical description of the woman outside of gender. Hudson has been very helpful and informative on that front. Although in his defense Meri could understand why names were not dropped willingly and thus she did not press for additional details that might make her search easier. It's with this goal in mind that the blonde artist makes her way toward the bar where she'll order herself a short glass of whiskey, no ice, and then continue her survey. No sense in rushing in too recklessly and asking too many questions to the wrong person, these matters were best dealt with a bit of tact.

Eleanor was lounging in a VIP booth off to the left side of the main stage, an herbal cigarette held between index and middle fingers of her left hand, while her right hand shuffled through a variety of papers, each of them stamped in the upper-right corner with the club's logo (probably something sophomoric and/or Huds' personal design). To the spellrogue's right, dark-haired and dark-eyed human triplets were showcasing in an exotic dance of red-orange fabrics and glittering bronze skin while a live band beyond played something with a heavy rhythm and catchy hooks. The room swayed to and fro with the light steps of elusive wait-staff and the main floor was so full of people from all walks of life it was a wonder Meri didn't suffer a short wait time outside: that could be due to her feminine nature, as the bouncers outside always seemed to favor the fairer sex; or perhaps Hudson himself had made the tattooist's intentions known in some way? Either way, El was suddenly in a huff, standing up in such a rush the nearly upended the empty bottle of whiskey perched precariously close to the table's edge and half-atop a stack of forms. It really wasn't all that often they had female customers, and as the woman towered over the table to scan the crowd in search of her interim manager, she caught sight of the other blonde, a curious brow rising. Martin suddenly emerged from a crowd of hand-waving drunks, bumbling over his words and earning himself an impatient eye-roll from El before she drawled an annoyed, "Martin, whaur th' heel ur th' interview notes?" The man threw up a vague gesture to indicate he didn't know, not even bothering to yell in his squeaky voice over the live band. Eleanor sighed, waving him away as she turned and wove her way through the tables toward the bar. Leaning over the bartop, she side-eyed Meri with a vague smirk, then called out to the bartender, greeting him with a knowing nod and a sigh, which he returned with an equally-knowing smirk of his own before moving to grab another bottle of whiskey for her. Meanwhile, El twisted to view Meri's profile, wondering if the other was interested in dancing; or really, hoping. That foreign burr of hers surged forward again, this time to carry words of an almost sultry tone as she addressed the other's gaze toward the room at large. "Loch whit ye see?"

Meri, without a doubt, had noticed Eleanor in this casual observation of the room and there were a few clues that this woman perhaps may be hire up in the ranks at this establishment. The paperwork on the table, for starters, her interaction with Martin, though it was not likely that Meri could actually hear their exchange between the other conversations in the room and the music that is being played. It was mostly a vibe, just a feeling that Meri was picking up on. Meri was half contemplating up and joining Eleanor at her table but it seems the spell made has honed right in on Meri as well. Easy to see why, Meri did stick out like a sore thumb in a crowd base of mostly men. "Mmm," comes the initial response to Eleanor. "It's not a bad place, if you are into women. I have told Hudson a few times that I really would love to see a ladies night here. He keeps ignoring the idea. I think because he is biased because he would rather spend his time staring at half-naked women." Ruby red lips curve up into a wry smirk as her baby blues stop the scan of 'The Office' and fixate on Eleanor's facade. Well that answers that. With tight black pants, worn in black leather boots, Meri did not exactly have the look and feel of an off duty dancer. The most feminine article of clothing on her was the burgundy corset that covers her torso. Then again, never judge a book by its cover, isn't that what they always say? A pause to lift her short glass of whiskey to her lips, sipping at it slowly. Meri must be accustomed to drinking hard alcohol for she is not amongst the crowd of people that wince when the amber liquid trickles down her throat. "Needless to say, I am not here for the women. I hear that you can get plenty of other things at this joint, though. Just a matter of meeting and connecting with the right face." Another pause, one that is combined with a lifted brow. "Y'know anything about that?"

Eleanor full lips twitched only slightly at the mention of Hudson, although her left brow did rise a few degrees. "S'at sae?" came her accented response, vague at best, initially as she gave the other a more thorough once-over. It was no surprise her business partner was probably friendly with most ladies in the land, so she didn't bother trying to sort out the tattooist's connection to the alchemist. At Meri's line of questioning, the vague alignment of her lips twisted into a fullgrown smirk. "Ah micht ken a hin' ur tois, depends oan who's askin'," she drawled in reply. The barkeep returned, then, with her bottle of whiskey, no tumbler needed, and the spellblade wasted no time in opening it and taking a swig as she waited her answer.

Meri presses red lips together in thought at the answer received from Eleanor, it felt a little bit like a game of cat and mouse to her but the artist would play along. "No one is askin' but the woman sitting right in front of you," comes Meri's to the point response, a grin displayed on her lips. The bartender would be kept busy tonight for after this response the tumbler would be emptied and slide back toward the tender with a wink in the hopes that it would gain her a refill. Given that she was a paying customer at the moment, that was not a far-fetched hope. The short glass of whiskey was filled and returned and while it may not compete with Eleanor's bottle? It was hard to say how long the tattoo artist would stay planted within these four walls, that all depended on many factors. "The name's Meri." And that's really all there was too it. Fingers are wrapped around the base of her glass of whiskey, eyes locked on Eleanor, Meri would just have to wait and see what the rune-tattooed blonde thought.

Leoxander was damn tired out. And rather than head to the pub, (after finding an empty loft), he went for his bro's digs. The 'Office', full of women and booze and likely his partner in crime. There was a pause at the door as he heard another voice, and he closed it very quietly, uncertain if the room was safe or not. After all, they weren't exactly in the flower business, here. Tired but nocturnal eyes grazed the room as he rounded the corner just as Meri introduced herself, and he glanced immediately toward Eleanor to verify if the situation was stable. The door closed softly behind him, he shed a slightly battered leather jacket for the 'wifebeater' beneath, stained and ruined but still his lucky shirt. All the ink down his arms revealed in the process. He stepped into that main area with caution but sought some bottle or a drink almost immediately, not yet speaking a word.

Eleanor considered Meri's replies with that same arc of her brows and crooked smirk in place. "Most caa me Eleanur." Other names were less kind, but nevertheless accurate at times; ice queen, bitch, to name a couple. In truth, she ran just as hot as she did cold, but it was somewhere in the middle that she found herself presented by the curious tattooist. Before she could reply, though, she caught sight of Leoxander amidst the crown of drunken revelers and show-watchers. El drew in a deep breath, studying him a moment before celadon eyes returned to Meri. "There's aye wark fur those fa need it," she replied at length.

Meri did not at first notice Leoxander's appearance, it wouldn't be until Eleanor's attention seemed momentarily distracted from the conversation at hand that Meri would cast a glance over her shoulder to take note of the newest arrival. Whom Eleanor seemed to be studying. This is noted. There would be a nod toward Leo before those baby blues swiveled back toward Eleanor. A half smile is crookedly displayed across her lips. "Now I suppose that depends on the manner of work we are talking about here, babe." A pause, a sip from her whiskey, and then her thumb is hitched over her shoulder to the stage, and a slow but firm shake of her head to indicate that she'd definitely not. "I've got work. That shop Lita owns down in Rynvale, I'm one of the artists there. But always looking for more ways to bring in that gold, depending on the offer." A wink to Eleanor and then Meri would settle further back into that barstool just to make herself a bit more comfortable, continuing to work on draining that short glass of whiskey.

Leoxander had a similar blue to his gaze. Perhaps not 'baby'. Let's call it somewhere between sky and water. Not that it mattered. It was mostly hidden behind the fall of a dusty blond that was overgrown more each day. He took a moment to crack some of the vertebrae in his neck before he headed forward into the active scene. Rynvale was the magic word that would have made wolf ears perk forward, if he had them. But at the moment, they were round; one pierced with a bone hoop on the left. 'Babe'. The nickname almost pulled a smirk into that always grim expression and ever serious stare. Rather than wander for alcohol, he took an open seat to watch the two rather blatantly, as though waiting for -someone- to bring him -something-. Arrogant bastard. An inked arm even rested on the back of the booth seat.

Eleanor tore her gaze away Meri again as the wolf moved to settle into a chair near them, but she was back to business with the other blonde in no time, but not before a quick glance around for eavesdroppers. "Wa dornt we tak' thes conversation tae th' office?" The manager's office, that is. She jerked with her chin toward a corridor that led past the stage and toward some of the dressing rooms, along with the rear entrance. She stepped away from the bar, bottle in hand, and turned to address Leo with a husky, "Hey." He was welcome to join them, of course; it was pretty much his business too these days, as she sauntered away to cross the room and duck into the manager's office without further ado.

Meri admittedly is hoping that Eleanor is referring to a different office than the one that Hudson took her into the first time that she was here. She is hoping that this office is much cleaner and does not have a questionable couch with an equally questionable afghan covering hiding who knows what stains. Please, Sven, let Eleanor have her own office. She follows after Eleanor in silence. If it is in fact the very same office, well. Meri is just going to opt for sitting on the desk, like she did the first time around. Hopefully his company will be as tolerant of her...forward/maybe kind of rude ways. She'd wait, and let Eleanor do most of the talking for the time being.

Leoxander took that 'Hey' and her bottle in hand as an invitation, and he crawled up with a quiet, wolfish grunt from his seat. No rest for the wicked, as they said. "Hey... 'babe'." Eleanor might think it 'his' business as well, but he was in Hudson's office and conspired with his partner-in-crime. Still, in the office, he went right to Hudson's seat since the fellow werewolf wasn't present, dropping into it just to be comfortable. Not really to show authority. His lap was still an option, for Eleanor. But his gaze was on Meri, and he would probably spot the discomfort in her eyes, even as she found a seat a few feet away. He was also one to wait, and let the spell-rogue start the conversation. But then again, the pirate was often quiet. More action, less words. Mostly, he was just waiting for a drink.

Meri was definitely not in luck. There was only the one office in The Office, but Meri was not alone in finding it mostly rather gross. Since the other blonde had taken up her seat atop the desk, El was forced to find somewhere else to sit, grumbling inwardly that her preferred seat had been taken by the tattooist. Not that anything showed up in her expression apart from that usual devil-may-care smirk, save the curious glance sent Leo's way. That smirk grew subtly as she swaggered over to him, and plopped down, twisting to toss a foot over the corner of the desk as she considered what Meri had been speaking of out in the main room. No more dancing around and mincing words, the spellrogue was direct as she spoke up. "Ye ken Huds." A beat as she considered her next phrase. "Noo ... teel me whit else y'ken, loove." Her gaze, though a hooded stare as usual (perhaps helped along with alcohol and herb) was unwavering as she studied Meri.

Meri's response comes slowly and her words were picked carefully, with Meri internally struggling on trying to determine just how much she was supposed to be revealing here. There is a bit of a lofted brow, "What else do I know, hm? Well I know Hudson makes the stuff. I know he's got a girl working with him who focuses on distribution." Her gaze lands on Eleanor, a playful wink, "Nice to meet you, Eleanor." A small pause. "And he'd mentioned that he's got a guy that he is working with on potentially expanding out in Rynvale. Supposedly he was going to talk to him about seeing if I'd be of any assistance out in Rynvale." Her gaze is now on Leoxander. "I don't rightly know his name yet though." Perhaps these details were not fully confirmed, but Meri was trying to piece things together and their reactions to her assumptions would be telling. Tattooed hands grip the edge of the desk. There's no sassy tone to anything Meri says, it's just her regurgitating the details of what she knows, in a setting she is familiar with. As this is the exact location she learned most of these details. It seemed safe to confess these details in these circumstances. "We might have talked about -very- vaguely about how blue dust was going to be phasing out and he might have tossed some purple dust my way as a trial."

Leoxander would be searching Eleanor for something. A rolled herbal smoke, a bottle in hand. Anything to appease his greed in the eye of a newcomer. Who he kept looking at mostly because of the very intricate tattoos that spotted her almost in the same places scars didn't spot his. Which meant his own ink filled that space. Some of which were still scarred. Okay, but aside all this, he was fairly impressed how well Meri understood his partner. His gaze met the woman's when she spoke of Rynvale and looked directly his way, but he wasn't about to assume too much. He had a feeling she knew he was a part of that island, in the past. "You know where the fog creeps?" Leo asked that strange question that most residents of his old territory would know. It was really the first meaningful thing he bothered to say since he arrived, and hopefully he had something to take a drink of as he listened for an answer.

Eleanor was always sporting the herbal cigs, tucked away in a belt, or under some side-boob. If Leo came up empty handed, at least there was always the whiskey she relinquished to him without hesitation, her gaze affixed to the other blonde. She was equally impressed with how smooth Meri picked up on her curled words, but she was more focused on finding out what the other had to offer. "Ye plannin' oan slingin' oan th' islain, 'eh?"

Meri slides down off of the desk, boots touching the ground smoothly -- which is no impressive feet. There was maybe what? Like six inches between the bottom of Meri's boots and the ground? Tattooed arms are folded loosely across her chest. It's Eleanor's question that is answered first, "Ah, now I believe the grand design in this all was to make sure that everyone got on before any commitment was made. Perhaps that was a thought but no promises have been made to me. Wouldn't want to go stepping on anyone's toes and nosing my way in. So, El, if you feel we get on? And that's what would be of help to you..." The next question is up for bat is Leoxander's question, "The entire northwestern forest on the island is covered in fog. I'm familiar enough with the landscape of the place."

Leoxander didn't exactly come up empty, though, because he wasn't too bashful to check some side-boob. But even as he placed that between his lips he had hold of the bottle she passed his way and tucked it between his leg and the side of the chair, in order to dig into a pocket for his firestarter. He lit the end as his eyes reflected a little of that flame on wick, blue irises shining gold and black pupils rusting green, for just a moment. "Hm." He said, accepting her answer, though there were no more wolves haunting the place, these days. He wasn't entirely sure what haunted it, now. But the fact that she knew put Meri in his radar. He let Eleanor do the complicated wording, though, as he took a drag from that herb packed cigarette and then washed a drink of whiskey down, making a bit of a face before he exhaled into the air.

Eleanor was quick to snatch up the cigarette once it'd been lit, taking a deep lungful as she considered Meri's counter-proposal. She chewed on the other blonde's words as she let out two plumes of smoke through her nose, sending a quick side-eye in Leo's direction to gauge his reaction to what Meri had said. Then once again, she was studying the other, finally offering up a nod and a simple, "If it's whit Huds thinks, 'en yoo've got yerself a trial, Meri."

Meri doesn't dwell too much on what that 'hm' meant, it could be taken a number of ways. Based on Eleanor's reaction Meri presumed that nothing she said was being taken in a negative light. This seemed like a fine point to end the discussion (before Meri's player falls asleep at the keyboard). Worn in leather boots step toward the door, "Well then, if that's an arrangement that everyone is happy with, then we have an understanding." Of the trial basis sort. "I will leave you two to your business now. I know the way out." There's a sly smirk that suggests Meri might want to say something else but she's minding her manners in front of prospective employers, no need to push her luck too much in one sitting. We'll be in touch is implied as far as Meri is concerned, the blonde slips out of the manager's office and well..then out of THE Office.]