RP:Family Of Five

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Summary: Pilar asks for Meri's help, requesting she assist with finding a few residential options for a family of five from Larket being troubled by the witch detection machine, even though they are good witches.

Rynvale: A Cafe

Pilar had sent a letter to Meri, asking if they could perhaps meet for lunch. After the two got the details figured out, Pilar flew to Rynvale on the back of her couatl. She landed on the wharf, spooking a couple sailors, and dismounted. There was a cafe nearby they'd agreed to meet at. Pilar made her way there, couatl slithering along behind.

While Meri herself was not out in Rynvale as near as much as she had been in very recent past, she was still more than familiar with the island. Not in a geographical sense either, the woman also had a solid familiarity with some of the residents. Of course Meri was not aware that these details would be important for this meeting, all she knew at this stage was that Pilar had requested a meeting. Perhaps Pilar wanted to discuss a new tattoo option? But surely she would request a meeting at SoulsKin were that actually the case, since she was coming all the way out to Rynvale. Meri herself would arrive to the cafe shortly after Pilar, by just a couple of minutes, giving Pilar ample time to claim the ladies a table and get settled. When she does arrive, those baby blues alight on Pilar and her feet carry her straight toward the woman, "Hiiii there."

Pilar was nursing a cup of water when Meri arrived. She offered a tired smile. She had bags under her eyes, and it was clear things were weighing on her mind. "Hi, Meri. It's good to see you. Have you been well?" The couatl had since taken off to hunt herself some lunch, and would return when Pilar called. For now, it was just them.

Meri sinks into a seat across from Pilar, though she does not order anything. The fact that Pilar is only drinking water suggests to Meri perhaps they will not be staying here long? Perhaps a quick little meeting, maybe Meri would get something to go on her way out. For now she would just smile at Pilar, folding tattooed hands neatly on the table in front of her own person. "Things have been well. Always plenty of work to keep me busy. Though I am not based out of SoulsKin these days, I have started my own business." In that place Pilar is trying to smuggle witches out of: Larket. "How about for you? I hope things have been well? I have not seen you since..." The protest. "And we did not have much chance to catch up then."

Pilar was only drinking water because the waitress hadn't come back to take her order yet. It was just as well, Pilar wasn't really hungry. Because vampire. "Oh! Congratulations!" she said. She was genuinely happy for Meri. "I've been... A lot's happened. Nothing I want to talk about, at least not right now. What I do want to talk about, though, can wait until after lunch, and we go somewhere with... less people." Pilar lowered her voice and leaned towards Meri. "Witch business."

Meri bobs her head in a nod, appreciating the fact that Pilar is straight forward and to the point with the subject matter without revealing too much. It was not often that people actually displayed this tactic, not nearly as much as they should. A quick wink to Pilar and Meri is up and out of her chair, snagging them a couple of menus before returning to the table. No bother to the staff at the cafe, it was just not less task for them to have to tend to and it probably was not the first time that Meri has been seen at this establishment anyway. The woman likes food. One menu is set in front of Pilar as Meri finds her seat again. "Right-o, well snagged us a couple of menus but to be honest with you, I had a fairly large breakfast." She couldn't help herself, it was delicious. "So I think I am going to keep it light and get some coffee to go and a danish. What about you...?" Meri did not need to look at the menu really, but once Pilar had decided she'd flag down one of the serves so that they could order.

Pilar perused the menu. "I'll probably get something light, too," she said. She settled on tea and a sandwich, and once their orders were given and the server gone, Pilar gave Meri a smile. "So. Tell me about your new place."

"Well it is out in Larket," it may seem like a questionable choice to start a new business out in Larket but there was an available building to purchase. "It will be an art supply studio, for the most part. I am thinking that hosting those classes where you can paint with friends and have a glass of wine would be fun to host there as well. And of course I don't want to give up tattooing." But she also does not want it to be a front runner in her life, it would be nice to be more selective about the clients she takes....In the sense that she does not want to continue taking those NPC stinky sailors fresh off the ship. "So if you ever decide you want a piece done again, I still have you covered. Unless of course you would like to make friends with Lita." The other artist at SoulsKin. "Who is very talented." While Meri is explaining this, their orders are delivered and placed in front of the appopriate person. Pilar has her tea and sandwhich, Meri has her coffee and her pastry. "And if it seems to be a popular enough of a business, I am thinking about following that up with a second space out in Cenril. More of an exhibit space, and not one just for me and any work I might generate. Others, like Aaken, could rent it out for their own artworks, I am thinking."

Pilar sipped her tea and ate while Meri spoke. "That sounds wonderful. Maybe someday I'll come get a tattoo for its own sake rather than as a memorial." Morbid, but not inaccurate. "Not much of an artist, but my friend makes wood carvings. She's very good." Small talk tided them over until they finished. Pilar insisted on paying for both of them, left a nice tip, and the duo headed out. "Where is someplace private?" Pilar asked. "I'm not too familiar with Rynvale." Hence the meeting.

To her feet Meri would go, but she would not lead them to any destination in particular. Meri did not own property out in Rynvale, and while they could go to a location like the Broken Barrel or the Kraken and briefly claim a room to hold a discussion, this is not the route that Meri takes. Once they leave the cafe, Meri's steers their path northward and leads them away from the bustle of Rynvale, toward the wilderness. The lack of people on the open road during this walk at least affords them the privacy they are wanting. There were no ears to overhear them where they were walking and if they did happen across the occasional traveler, they could always change subjects. "People do not request private meetinsg for no reason. So..."

"Thank you again for seeing me. It's urgent," Pilar said. "Have you heard of this witchcraft detection machine the Larketian monarchy has? It has apparently been pinging a family that has done nothing wrong. But because there are witches in thr family, guards keep harassing them and their neighbors are becoming hostile."

Meri is silent from here on out, it is not something that Pilar should percieve as a bad thing. If anything it seems like Meri is just listening intently and trying to hear the woman out and Pilar only seems to be about part way through whatever pitch or point she had. At least as far as Meri could guess. There would be a slow shake of her head to indicate that she had not yet heard ot his machine and then when Pilar seems to pause in her words, she looks at the woman as if to try and encourage her to go on. All the while a watchful eye is kept on the scenary around them, trying to keep a lookout for others who might be happening through the area.

Pilar continued, "So, they asked me for help in getting out of Larket. Thing is, while they're under investigation, they can't leave. So I'll have to sneak them out. They decided they want to move to Rynvale, but they don't know the island very well, and neither do I. That's where you come in. I don't know how well you know Rynvale, but I know you know it better than I do. Can you help find them lodging? It's a family of five."

"Well obviously my ability to help them is going to depend on what their financial situation is like...." Meri would begin. "Are they prepared to move straight into a house? Rent something? Would a couple of rooms at an Inn be more affordable to them so they could have time to find work? Then a place of residence of their own choosing? I may know a family who could let them reside within extra rooms on their farm but I would need to speak with them first to confirm their willingness to accomodate a family of five..." There were a lot of options for Meri could consider and it could be that what they ultimately wanted was a fast solution over anything else. Once more Meri is looking to Pilar to expand upon the details.

"They're relatively well-off but I don't know if they're well-off enough to get a house. They don't want to move into an inn, I know that much, and I'm not sure how they'd feel about moving in with people they don't know. Their trust in strangers is at an all-time low. Renting may be the best option."

Meri nods in understanding, "I will see what I can locate out in Rynale for a family of five." As Meri was not exactly in the real estate industry, she did not have a running listing of Rynvale's currently available properties, she would have to ask around. "I will work quickly to find some space that they can rent, for a family of five." A tall order, it could mean some of them would have to share rooms for a little bit, depending on the properties out there for rent. "I will see what I can find and then forward you a couple of addresses while you assist the family with getting their affairs in order?"

Pilar smiled. "That sounds good. Thank you so much, Meri. I know they'll appreciate it, too."

As Meri and Pilar had been walking away from Rynvale proper, the blonde turns and steers their walk back to civilization. "Great. Well you will be hearing from me very shortly. Hopefully there are options for them. If not, on the upside, it is only temporary and they can always find something new as they become available." Better than being harassed. "It was good seeing you again, Pilar, and I am glad that I can be of help to you and this family."